Coca-Cola has announced that it will introduce a new cola made with US cane sugar this year. The move comes shortly after former US President Donald Trump claimed that the company had agreed to replace high-fructose corn syrup in its drinks. In its quarterly earnings report, Coca-Cola said the new version will give customers “a different experience” while keeping its regular range of products. “This is really an ‘and’ strategy and not an ‘or’ strategy,” said Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey. “We are going to continue to use a lot of the corn syrup that we do now,” he further added.
The new drink is expected to be an addition to Coca-Cola’s lineup, not a replacement. The brand already sells a cane sugar version known as “Mexican Coke” in the US, but it usually costs nearly twice as much as the regular version.
The announcement comes as the US health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., pushes the Make America Healthy Again campaign, urging companies to offer healthier options.
Donald Trump convinced Coca-Cola to switch
On July 16, Trump posted on social media that he had convinced Coca-Cola to switch. “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,” he wrote. “This will be a very good move by them – You’ll see. It’s just better!”
But health experts say the change may not actually make Coke any healthier.
Cane sugar vs. corn syrup in Coca-Cola
Both cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are forms of sugar made up of glucose and fructose. HFCS usually contains about 55 per cent fructose, compared to 50 per cent in cane sugar.
“Cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup are more similar than people realise,” said Dr. Saptarshi Bhattacharya, Senior Consultant, Endocrinology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. “That small difference doesn’t make cane sugar a healthier choice,” he said.
Some research suggests HFCS may raise inflammation levels slightly more than cane sugar. But according to Dr. Bhattacharya, “In typical amounts, both sweeteners affect weight, cholesterol, blood sugar, and metabolic health in very similar ways.”
No big health benefit
Consumer health groups agree that the main problem is the amount of sugar people consume, not whether it comes from corn syrup or cane sugar. “Excess consumption of sugar from any source harms health,” said Eva Greenthal, senior policy scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. “The focus should be on less sugar, not different sugar.”
Dr. Bhattacharya added that switching to cane sugar will not reduce the risks of sugary drinks like Coke. “Both lead to weight gain, insulin resistance, diabetes, fatty liver, and heart disease when consumed in excess,” he said.
How much sugar is too much?
A single can of Coke contains about 35–40 grams of sugar. That’s already more than the daily limit recommended for women and close to the limit for men.
“The American Heart Association recommends women have no more than 25 grams of added sugar a day, and men no more than 37.5 grams,” Dr. Bhattacharya explained. “So one can of Coke can exceed the safe limit for women and nearly max it out for men.”
The World Health Organization also advises keeping added sugars below 10 per cent of daily calories, with the best benefits below 5 per cent. That’s about 25 grams of sugar a day on a 2,000-calorie diet.
“The body processes cane sugar and corn syrup almost the same way,” Dr. Bhattacharya said. “So whether it’s called ‘real sugar’ or not, the health risks remain if you drink too much.”
More about marketing than health risks
Experts believe Coca-Cola’s move is more about marketing than health. Many consumers think cane sugar is more “natural,” which could make the new version more popular, even though it’s not healthier.
“Consumers often see cane sugar as cleaner or better,” Dr. Bhattacharya said. “But in reality, it’s still sugar, and the risks are the same,” he added.
Coca-Cola’s cane sugar version may taste different and appeal to those looking for a “natural” option, but doctors and nutritionists warn that it won’t make a meaningful difference to your health.
“The only real way to reduce health risks is to cut down on sugary drinks altogether,” Dr. Bhattacharya said. Choosing cane sugar over corn syrup won’t change the fact that cola is still loaded with sugar.
