Coca-Cola has begun using cane sugar in its drinks months after President Donald Trump demanded it make a U.S. version of its Mexican Coke.
A company spokesperson told The New York Post that it will sell a “new 12-oz single-serve glass bottle in select US markets, offering consumers a classic and timeless way to enjoy their Coca-Cola Original Taste made with US cane sugar.”
In July, President Trump said he began “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!”
Shortly after Trump issued his comment, Coca-Cola defended its use of high fructose corn syrup. “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 said. “It’s safe; it has about the same number of calories per serving as table sugar and is metabolized in a similar way by your body. The American Medical Association has confirmed that HFCS is no more likely to contribute to obesity than table sugar or other full-calorie sweeteners.”
Coca-Cola later announced that it will offer products with cane sugar as well as high fructose corn syrup.
“As part of its ongoing innovation agenda, this fall in the United States, the company plans to launch an offering made with U.S. cane sugar to expand its Trademark Coca-Cola product range,” the company wrote in its latest earnings report. “This addition is designed to complement the company’s strong core portfolio and offer more choices across occasions and preferences.”
