Trump: Coca-Cola Company (KO.US) has agreed to switch to using cane sugar in Coke in the United States.

President Trump has stated on social media that Coca-Cola Company (KO.US) has agreed to use cane sugar in the Coke beverages sold in the United States. Trump said, "I have been in communication with Coca-Cola Company, hoping they will use real cane sugar in American Coke, and they have agreed." "I want to thank all the decision-makers at Coca-Cola Company." Coca-Cola Company later issued a statement saying, "We appreciate President Trump's passion for our iconic Coca-Cola Company brand. More details about new innovative products in the Coca-Cola Company product line will be announced soon." Currently, Coca-Cola Company has been selling a version of Coke with cane sugar in Mexico. However, Coca-Cola Company has refused to disclose whether they will convert all their beverages in the United States to cane sugar formula and added that more information will be provided on July 22 when they release their financial report. According to the official website, the original Coca-Cola Company sold in the United States currently uses high fructose corn syrup, a sweetener made from corn. The Cleveland Clinic points out that this syrup is used widely in packaged foods because it is more stable, cheaper, and sweeter than cane sugar. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been a vocal critic of the prevalence of processed foods, which are more likely to use high fructose corn syrup. He has stated that "high fructose corn syrup is everywhere," and it is making Americans increasingly unhealthy. According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it is estimated that by the 2025-2026 fiscal year, U.S. sugar production will account for about 30% of domestic sugar supply; the rest will come from sugar beets and imported sugar from Mexico and other countries. Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM.US), a corn syrup manufacturer, saw its stock price drop by as much as 8% in after-hours trading in New York as a result of this news. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola Company's stock price remained largely unchanged. John Bode, Chairman of the U.S. Corn Refiners Association, stated in a declaration that it is not reasonable to replace high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar amid Trump's support for American farmers and manufacturing jobs. He said, "Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar will result in the loss of thousands of food manufacturing jobs in America, reduced farmer income, and increased imports of foreign sugar, with no nutritional benefit." It is well known that President Trump himself enjoys Diet Coke, which uses the artificial sweetener aspartame. Coca-Cola Company CEO James Quincey had previously gifted him a custom-made bottle of Diet Coke to celebrate Trump's inauguration.