Coca-Cola has confirmed plans to roll out a new version of its iconic soft drink sweetened with U.S.-sourced cane sugar, expanding its American product range for the first time in decades. The announcement comes on the heels of a social media preview by President Donald Trump, who has openly championed the move as a return to “real” ingredients.
While Coca-Cola already uses traditional sugar in many of its products globally, including in Mexico and parts of Europe, the U.S. version of Coke has largely relied on high-fructose corn syrup since the 1980s—a cost-effective but controversial sweetener substitute.
In its quarterly update to investors on Tuesday, the Atlanta-based beverage giant said the new cane sugar Coke will launch this autumn as part of a strategy to broaden consumer choice.
“We are definitely looking to use the whole toolkit of available sweetening options where there are consumer preferences,” said Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey, adding that the company already uses cane sugar in U.S. offerings like lemonade, vitamin water, and coffee drinks.
The move follows weeks of public speculation and political pressure. President Trump previously hinted at the change on his Truth Social platform, declaring it “a very good move” and claiming credit for persuading the company to consider the shift. He has raised concerns about corn syrup’s health risks, a position echoed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—although nutrition experts generally agree that there’s little evidence one sweetener is significantly healthier than the other.
According to 2024: How Trump Retook the White House, Trump first broached the topic with Coca-Cola’s leadership in January, reportedly enlisting the help of billionaire sugar mogul and political donor Jose Fanjul to drive home the point. Last week, the president wrote:
“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.”
While the company initially responded cautiously, saying it “appreciates President Trump’s enthusiasm,” it has now confirmed the plan in a formal investor update.
The decision may also reflect shifting consumer preferences. A niche but passionate market already exists in the U.S. for “Mexican Coke,” a version sold in glass bottles and sweetened with cane sugar. It has enjoyed cult status among soda enthusiasts since its U.S. debut in 2005, despite its premium pricing.
Coca-Cola has not yet revealed the branding, packaging, or pricing strategy for the upcoming product, but emphasized it would complement—not replace—its current high-fructose corn syrup offering.
The rollout is expected to test how much weight consumer nostalgia and ingredient transparency now carry in a market increasingly focused on health, origin, and authenticity.