Coca-Cola sidesteps Trump’s claim it’s switching corn syrup for cane sugar

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Coca-Cola has avoided confirming President Donald Trump’s claim that the beverage giant will switch from corn syrup to cane sugar in its American drinks.

In a post published Wednesday on Truth Social, Trump declared:

I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so. I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them — You’ll see. It’s just better!”

Trump, a well-known Diet Coke drinker, has long-standing ties with the brand, even reportedly installing a Diet Coke button in the Oval Office during both presidential terms.

Coca-Cola responded later the same day with a carefully worded statement that fell short of confirmation:

We appreciate President Trump’s enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand. More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon.”

The company did not say it would alter the sweetener used in its US products, which currently rely on high-fructose corn syrup, a switch first announced in 1984 to lower production costs. In contrast, Coca-Cola beverages sold in the UK, Mexico and Australia are commonly made with cane sugar.

The statement comes amid mounting pressure from Trump’s Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who is spearheading the Make America Healthy Again campaign. Kennedy has criticised corn syrup, seed oils and artificial dyes for their alleged health risks and reportedly plans to revise US dietary guidelines later this year.

Kennedy’s stance has gained wider industry support, with several major brands already committed to reformulating their products. Just this week, 40 US ice cream producers pledged to remove artificial dyes such as Red 40 and Yellow 5 from real milk-based products by the end of 2027.

However, any move away from corn syrup could spark economic pushback. John Bode, President and CEO of the Corn Refiners Association, defended the ingredient’s use:

Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn’t make sense. President Trump stands for American manufacturing jobs, American farmers and reducing the trade deficit. Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit.”

For now, Coca-Cola remains non-committal, neither confirming nor denying Trump’s claims and keeping any potential formulation plans under wraps.