Coca-Cola Plans US Cane Sugar Coke Following Trump Push

Coca-Cola announced it will launch a new version of its flagship Coke sweetened with U.S.-grown cane sugar this fall, a move influenced by President Donald Trump's request and reflecting shifting consumer preferences toward healthier options. The new cane sugar Coke will be offered alongside the classic version made with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), not replacing it, providing consumers more choices. This decision aligns with Trump’s economic focus on using domestic products and follows criticism of HFCS by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who associates it with obesity and diabetes. Coca-Cola’s CEO James Quincey emphasized that the cane sugar version will complement the existing portfolio and cater to demands for more natural flavors, similar to the popular Mexican Coke that uses cane sugar. The introduction of the new product coincides with Coca-Cola's strong quarterly earnings and an increase in retail sentiment despite a slight decline in global unit volume. The use of domestic cane sugar also reflects current U.S. trade policies, which impose tariffs protecting the U.S. sugar industry, potentially affecting the product’s cost.