Coca-Cola is now offering cane-sweetened soda in the U.S., a move that comes after President Trump urged the company to make a domestic version of its Mexican cola.
This fall, you can find a new 12-ounce glass bottle in select markets, designed to provide a classic way to enjoy the original Coca-Cola flavor, sweetened with cane sugar, as a spokesperson informed the Post.
The introduction of this new soda was announced for July, following Trump’s statement that the company had “agreed” to add “real sugar” to American Coke.
“You’ll see,” the president remarked. “It’s even better!”
Cane sugar has been a hallmark of some international variants, like the Mexican Coke that started arriving in Texas in the early 2000s. It quickly gained a devoted following.
Fans argue that cane sugar results in a taste that is “cleaner” and “sharper.” Interestingly, participants in blind taste tests tended to prefer drinks sweetened with cane sugar, as noted by the New York Times.
Coca-Cola has also incorporated sugar into other products available in the U.S., such as Simply Lemonade and Gold Peak Iced Tea.
A few years back, the company shifted to using less expensive high-fructose corn syrup in its flagship beverages.
This decision faced criticism from Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who labeled it “poison” during his “Make America Healthy Again” campaign.
“It’s clearly linked to the obesity epidemic,” Kennedy stated during the “Breakfast Club” radio show in 2023. He added, “If you’re going to drink Coca-Cola, drink Mexican Coke, because there’s no Mexican Coke in it.”
Following Steak ‘n Shake’s announcement to serve Coca-Cola with real sugar, Kennedy tweeted, “MAHA wins.”
However, the rollout of real sugar Coke may encounter delays due to supply chain challenges. Chief Financial Officer John Murphy mentioned that the process would be “cautious,” citing limited sugar cane supply in the U.S.
The company is also facing obstacles with its glass bottling process, which is crucial for the cane sugar soda’s iconic look.
“The success of Mexican Coke in the U.S. is about the combination of its product and packaging,” Murphy mentioned. “We aim to recreate that using American cane sugar.” He indicated the need to enhance bottling capabilities before nationwide distribution can commence.
Experts caution that swapping one type of sugar for another doesn’t necessarily make drinks healthier. They suggest that the emphasis should really be on lowering the consumption of sugar-laden beverages.
“Our bodies don’t distinguish between sugar and high-fructose corn syrup,” commented a spokesperson from the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “What matters is that it’s sugar, and we need to process it.”
Recent FDA statements indicate there’s no significant evidence showing safety differences between high-fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners like sucrose.
Coca-Cola has seen success with healthier product lines, including Body Armor and Smart Water, and reported a 14% global sales volume increase for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar in the third quarter.
