Trump Claims Coca-Cola to Use Cane Sugar in US Production
Trump’s Cane Sugar Push Sends ripples Through Beverage Industry
washington D.C. – A seemingly offhand comment from former President Donald Trump suggesting Coca-Cola should switch to cane sugar has ignited a debate within the beverage industry, prompting responses from both Coca-Cola and rival PepsiCo, and sending shockwaves through agricultural markets.
Trump, speaking on Wednesday, expressed his preference for Coca-Cola to use cane sugar, a move that would represent a significant shift from the company’s current primary sweetener in the US: high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The implications of such a switch, from sourcing to consumer preference, are being closely scrutinized.Coca-Cola, while acknowledging Trump’s enthusiasm, offered a measured response. ”We appreciate President Trump’s enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand,” a spokesperson stated. “More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon.” This vague statement has done little to quell speculation about the company’s potential plans.
The ripple effect of Trump’s statement was immediately felt across the industry. PepsiCo, when questioned during an earnings call on Thursday, indicated its commitment to consumer demand. “We’re following the consumer,” said Ramon Laguarta, Pepsi’s chief executive. “If the consumer is telling us that thay prefer products that have sugar and they prefer products that have natural ingredients, we will give the consumer products that have sugar and have natural ingredients.”
The crux of the debate lies in the sweeteners themselves. US-produced Coca-Cola predominantly uses HFCS, a sweetener derived from corn. This places its production base firmly in the Midwestern farm states, manny of which were strong supporters of Trump in the 2024 election. Conversely, US cane sugar is primarily grown in the warmer Gulf Coast states of Florida and Louisiana, with additional imports managed through a tariff quota system.
The market reacted swiftly to the news. Shares of major corn processors, Archer Daniels Midland and Ingredion, experienced significant drops in after-hours trading on Wednesday, though they largely recovered by Thursday’s market open. Coca-cola’s stock, simultaneously occurring, saw a modest increase.
Industry groups have voiced strong opinions. John Bode, chief executive of the Corn Refiners Association, warned of negative consequences. “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,” he stated.
Coca-Cola’s bottlers historically used cane sugar in US production until the 1980s and continue to do so in most international markets. This has led to the popular perception of “Mexican Coke,” made with cane sugar, being favored by some US consumers. Similarly, the Kosher for Passover version of Coca-Cola, identifiable by its yellow caps, is also sought after for its use of sugar.
In its social media communications, Coca-Cola has defended HFCS, asserting its safety and comparable calorie content to table sugar. “The name sounds complex,but high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) – which we use to sweeten some of our beverages – is actually just a sweetener made from corn,” the company explained.
Trump’s advocacy for cane sugar aligns with broader trends in food policy, as his health secretary, Robert Kennedy Jr., has been actively promoting a crackdown on highly processed foods. Earlier in the week, the White House announced that a significant portion of US ice cream manufacturers had pledged to eliminate artificial colors from their products. While Kennedy has been critical of HFCS, his stance extends to sugar in general, having previously declared “sugar is poison” without specifying its origin. The debate over sweeteners, it seems, is far from over.