Coca-Cola in the United States may transition to using real sugar in its flagship drink, according to Trump's statements, but the beverage company remains silent on the matter.
President Donald Trump recently announced on his social media platform that Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in its flagship soft drink within the United States. However, the soft drink giant has not officially confirmed this switch, according to a statement released by the company.
In the statement, Coca-Cola mentioned that they would share more details on new innovative offerings soon. The company did not explicitly confirm replacing high-fructose corn syrup with cane sugar in their U.S. products. Coca-Cola also defended the use of high-fructose corn syrup, stating that it has a similar calorie content and metabolism to table sugar.
The potential switch to cane sugar would put Coca-Cola more in line with its practices in other countries. The company has long indulged U.S. fans of cane sugar by importing glass bottles of Mexican Coke to the U.S. since 2005.
The Corn Refiners Association, which represents the U.S. corn refining industry, has expressed concerns about the potential impact of such a switch. The Association's President and CEO, John Bode, stated that replacing high-fructose corn syrup with cane sugar could cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar.
Despite these potential implications, Trump continues to drink Diet Coke, as evidenced by a bottle being seen next to his chair at a G20 summit in 2017 and reports of him drinking a dozen daily in 2018. Trump's relationship with Coca-Cola has been strained, with him suggesting diet soda might be connected to weight gain in 2012.
Associated Press writers Dee-Ann Durbin and Josh Funk contributed to this report. The story does not provide new information on any potential boost in foreign sugar imports, job losses in the U.S. food manufacturing industry, or any potential impact on the Corn Refiners Association's concerns.
[1] The Associated Press. (n.d.). Coca-Cola says it will share more details on new offerings soon. Associated Press. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/coca-cola-soft-drinks-beverages-food-and-drink-business-4b27499c52f3f0d0e326a2425d9e517a
[2] The Associated Press. (n.d.). Trump says Coca-Cola will use real sugar in its flagship soft drink. Associated Press. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-coca-cola-soft-drinks-beverages-business-4b27499c52f3f0d0e326a2425d9e517a
- The potential shift towards using real cane sugar in Coca-Cola's U.S. products could alter the business landscape, potentially impacting food manufacturing jobs and farming income due to increased foreign sugar imports, as stated by the Corn Refiners Association.
- In a statement, Coca-Cola announced plans to share details about new innovative offerings soon, without confirming a switch from high-fructose corn syrup to cane sugar in their products.
- The use of real cane sugar in Coca-Cola's U.S. products, if confirmed, would bring the company in line with its practices in other countries, following a decades-long tradition of importing glass bottles of Mexican Coke since 2005.
- Despite concerns about potential job losses and implications for the U.S. food industry, President Donald Trump, known for his Diet Coke consumption, has not expressed any change in his preference for the drink, as demonstrated by his past and present actions.
