Donald Trump Reveals Major Coca-Cola Ingredient Change

In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump said that Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in U.S. production of the popular soda.

In the U.S., Coca-Cola is typically sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, while the company uses cane sugar in its beverages sold in other countries such as Mexico and Australia.

The president posted, "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 company has not confirmed the move.

A Coca-Cola spokesperson told Newsweek in a statement, "We appreciate President Trump's enthusiasm for our iconic Coca‑Cola brand. More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca‑Cola product range will be shared soon.

President Trump has a famous affinity for Diet Coke, which uses aspartame, a low-calorie artificial sweetener. He has reinstalled a button on the Oval Office desk that alerts White House staff when he wants a fresh can of Diet Coke.

Despite his well-known fondness for Diet Coke, Donald Trump's relationship with the brand has had its bitter moments. In a string of 2012 tweets, he questioned whether diet soda might actually contribute to weight gain, eventually declaring, "The Coca Cola company is not happy with me — that's okay, I'll still keep drinking that garbage."

Still, his loyalty to the beverage was evident years later—a bottle of Diet Coke sat beside him at the 2017 G20 summit. According to The New York Times, by 2018 he was reportedly consuming up to a dozen Diet Cokes a day.

Before his second-term inauguration, Trump was presented with a special Presidential Commemorative Inaugural Diet Coke bottle by Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey.

Newsweek has reached out to the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services via email on Wednesday afternoon for comment.

RFK Jr.'s MAHA Initiatives Puts Pressure on US Companies

The Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative—named after the health-focused movement championed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—has pressured food companies to reformulate their products by eliminating ingredients such as artificial dyes.

Kennedy has voiced strong concerns about the high levels of sugar in the American diet and has said that the updated dietary guidelines, set to be released this summer, will encourage Americans to focus on eating "whole food."

A May report from the MAHA Commission—a panel established by Trump to investigate the root causes of chronic disease—found that high consumption of high-fructose corn syrup may contribute to childhood obesity and other health issues.

While medical experts advise limiting added sugars overall, they have not found major health differences between cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. Corn growers, primarily based in the U.S. Midwest, have long held significant sway in Washington policymaking. Meanwhile, the president's home state of Florida remains the leading producer of sugarcane in the country.

"Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn't make sense," Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode told Reuters. "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."

What are the ingredients in Coca-Cola produced for the U.S.?

Coca-Cola produced for the U.S. market contains a specific blend of ingredients designed to deliver its signature flavor while maintaining cost efficiency. The primary ingredients include carbonated water, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as the sweetener, caramel color for its deep hue, phosphoric acid for tartness, natural flavors derived from a blend of botanical extracts, and caffeine.

High-fructose corn syrup, which is cheaper than cane sugar, has been the standard sweetener in the U.S. since the 1980s, largely due to domestic corn subsidies and sugar import tariffs. The formula delivers the classic Coca-Cola taste that Americans are familiar with, although it differs from versions of the beverage sold in other countries.

In addition to cost advantages, HFCS offers manufacturing efficiency and longer shelf stability, making it a practical choice for large-scale U.S. production and distribution.

Is there cane sugar in Coca-Cola?

Cane sugar is not typically used in mainstream Coca-Cola sold in the U.S. However, Coca-Cola does use cane sugar in some of its products for international markets and in limited U.S. offerings. For instance, "Mexican Coke," imported and sold in glass bottles, is widely known for using real cane sugar and has gained a cult following among fans who prefer its flavor profile.

Additionally, Coca-Cola sometimes releases special editions, such as kosher-for-Passover versions, that substitute cane sugar for HFCS. Although not the standard in American production, cane sugar remains an active part of Coca-Cola's global ingredient portfolio.

Sugarcane in the U.S. is primarily cultivated in Florida and Louisiana, with additional supplies imported through tariff quotas. Based on trade data for 2023, the U.S. imported approximately $1.68 billion worth of raw cane sugar, largely from Mexico or Brazil. It's unclear how the shift aligns with Trump's broader tariff strategy.

What are the ingredients in Mexican Coke?

Mexican Coca-Cola, officially known as "Coca-Cola de México," is prized for its use of cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup, giving it a slightly different—and often considered cleaner or smoother—taste. The ingredients include carbonated water, cane sugar, caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors, and caffeine. While its core formula is similar to American Coca-Cola, the substitution of sweeteners makes a noticeable difference for many consumers.

Packaged in traditional glass bottles, Mexican Coca-Cola is often viewed as a premium or nostalgic product and is widely available in specialty stores and some supermarkets in the United States.

Updates: 7/16/25, 6:07 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.

Updates: 7/16/25, 6:21 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.

Updates: 7/16/25, 7:01 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.

Updates: 7/16/25, 7:53 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.