Coca-Cola offered a veiled promise after President Donald Trump disclosed alleged conversations with the beverage conglomerate about switching from corn syrup to cane sugar.
A spokesperson for Coca-Cola acknowledged “President Trump’s enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand,” but did not confirm whether the company “agreed” to use “REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States,” as Trump claimed in a Wednesday Truth Social post.
“More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon,” the spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News.
Trump’s post also sparked a response from Corn Refiners Association President John Bode on Wednesday, as Coca-Cola currently uses high fructose corn syrup in its products.
“Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn’t make sense,” Bode said. “President Trump stands for American manufacturing jobs, American farmers, and reducing the trade deficit.”
“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,” Bode added.
The Washington Examiner contacted the White House and Coca-Cola for comment.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. celebrated companies switching from high-fructose corn syrup. He commended coffee company Starbucks for abstaining from the corn-based sweetener.
In-N-Out Burger also announced it would transition away from using high-fructose corn syrup in its ketchup.
Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey told investors in April that “we continue to make progress on sugar reduction in our beverages.”
TRUMP SAYS COKE IN US WILL START USING CANE SUGAR
Mexican Coke products already use cane sugar.
According to a Department of Agriculture report, Brazil is the top cane sugar producer in the world. Florida, Louisiana, and Texas also produce cane sugar, which could likely boom should Trump impose a 50% tariff against Brazil on Aug. 1.