Fact Check: "President Trump announced that Coca-Cola will use real cane sugar in its products sold in the U.S."
What We Know
On July 16, 2025, President Trump claimed that he had spoken with Coca-Cola about using "REAL cane sugar in Coke" in the United States, stating that the company had agreed to begin adding it to their products (source-1). However, Coca-Cola's official response did not confirm this agreement. A spokeswoman for the company, Michelle Agnew, acknowledged Trump's enthusiasm but did not provide specifics on whether Coca-Cola would exclusively use cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which has been a staple in their products since 1980 (source-1).
Coca-Cola's CEO, James Quincey, later announced that the company would indeed be introducing a new Coke product sweetened with U.S. cane sugar, expected to launch in the fall of 2025. This product will complement their existing offerings rather than replace the current formula, which still primarily uses HFCS (source-2, source-3).
Analysis
The claim that President Trump announced Coca-Cola would use real cane sugar in its products is partially accurate. Trump did make a statement about Coca-Cola agreeing to use cane sugar, but Coca-Cola's official stance was more cautious. They did not confirm an agreement to switch entirely from HFCS to cane sugar, which is a significant distinction. Instead, they announced plans to introduce a new product that would use cane sugar, which aligns with Trump's push but does not imply a complete overhaul of their existing recipes (source-1, source-5).
The reliability of the sources varies. The New York Times and NPR are reputable news organizations known for their journalistic standards, while other sources like ABC News and CNN also provide credible information but may have varying degrees of editorial slant. The statements from Coca-Cola's representatives are crucial as they clarify the company's position and intentions regarding sugar use in their products (source-2, source-8).
Conclusion
The claim that President Trump announced Coca-Cola will use real cane sugar in its products sold in the U.S. is Partially True. While Trump did assert that Coca-Cola had agreed to this change, the company's official response indicates that they are introducing a new product with cane sugar rather than committing to a complete switch from HFCS in all their products. Thus, the announcement reflects a potential change but does not fully align with Trump's assertion.
Sources
- Trump Says Coca-Cola Agreed to Use Real Sugar in U.S. But ...
- Coca-Cola to use cane sugar in Coke after Trump push
- Coca-Cola will roll out cane sugar Coke in US after Trump ...
- Coca-Cola to launch Coke with U.S. cane sugar after push by ...
- Coca-Cola will launch Coke with U.S. cane sugar after ...
- Coca-Cola to launch new U.S. soda with cane sugar this fall
- Coca-Cola is releasing a Trump-approved new version of ...
- Trump says Coke agrees to use cane sugar in US - ABC News