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Coca-Cola has begun selling an American version of its soft drink made with U.S. cane sugar, following pressure from President Donald Trump and aligning with his Make America Healthy Again initiative.
The company confirmed the move in a statement to the New York Post, saying it is offering “a new 12-ounce single-serve glass bottle in select U.S. markets, offering consumers a classic and timeless way to enjoy their Coca-Cola Original Taste made with U.S. cane sugar.”
President Trump claimed in July that he had convinced the beverage maker to switch to “REAL Cane Sugar.”
“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!” the president posted on Truth Social, arguing that the change would be part of his health campaign. Coca-Cola later announced that a cane sugar version would arrive in U.S. stores this fall.
Coca-Cola products in several international markets already use cane sugar, including Mexican Coke, which the company began importing to Texas in the early 2000s. The drink has developed a loyal following among fans who say it tastes better than the high-fructose corn syrup version. Blind taste tests have also favored the cane-sugar formula, The New York Times reported.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a leading voice in the Make America Healthy Again campaign, has long criticized high-fructose corn syrup, calling it “poison.” Nutrition experts, however, caution that substituting one sweetener for another will not make soft drinks significantly healthier.
“Clearly it is linked to the obesity epidemic. It’s linked to the diabetes epidemic,” Kennedy said in a 2023 interview on “The Breakfast Club,” according to the Post. “If you’re going to drink Coca-Cola, drink a Mexican Coke because they don’t have it in it.”
Coca-Cola executives say the nationwide rollout will take time due to production constraints.
