Trump wants Coca-Cola with sugar cane – the new taste shock!

Trump wants Coca-Cola with sugar cane – the new taste shock!

US President Donald Trump has announced that Coca-Cola in the United States could in future be made with sugar cane instead of corn syrup. Trump shared this information via the online platform Truth Social after a conversation with Coca-Cola representatives. However, it is unclear whether sugarcane will completely replace corn syrup or whether both sweeteners will exist in parallel on the US market. Coca-Cola responded favorably to Trump's enthusiasm and said it would soon announce more details about new innovative offerings.

The Mexican version of Coca-Cola, which is sweetened with sugar cane, is already available in stores in the USA. However, since the 1980s, sugary Coca-Cola drinks in the United States have been sweetened predominantly with high fructose corn syrup. This sweetener is cheaper, sweeter and has a longer shelf life than other types of sugar. However, corn syrup has been criticized: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's health secretary, described it as unhealthy.

A turning point in the recipe?

Trump's announcement could represent a significant change in Coca-Cola's formula. Coca-Cola is known for having considered the drink's base ingredients, which include water, sugar and natural flavors such as caffeine, one of the best-kept secrets in the US economy since 1886. Only two company executives know the entire recipe, and both are contractually obliged to maintain secrecy. So far, the US has been dominated by corn syrup (HFCS), which contains 55% fructose and 45% glucose and is cheaper due to agricultural subsidies.

The discussion about switching from corn syrup to sugar cane is no coincidence. Corn syrup has been at the center of public health debates for years, particularly as increases in HFCS consumption correlate with increases in obesity in the United States. While some expert groups highlight increased calorie intake as a primary cause of the obesity epidemic, corn syrup remains controversial.

Market influences and Trump's preferences

A possible switch to cane sugar is already having an impact on the market. Following Trump's announcement, shares of the Archer-Daniels-Midland Company, a major producer of corn syrup, fell around six percent in after-hours US trading. Trump is also planning a 30 percent tariff on goods from Mexico starting August 1, which could increase prices for imported cola. A cola containing cane sugar has been available in the US market since 2005 under the name “Mexican Coke”, which is sold via import.

Interestingly, Trump is personally not a fan of the classic Coca-Cola drink and prefers “Diet Coke,” which is sweetened with sweeteners such as aspartame and acesulfame-K. Amusingly, he even had a “Diet Coke Button” installed in the Oval Office so he could order his favorite soda at the push of a button. In the past, the relationship between Trump and Coca-Cola was not always harmonious. In 2012, Trump called for a boycott of the company.