Here's how Coke using sugar instead of corn syrup could affect you
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Cases of Coca-Cola soda are displayed at a store in San Diego, California. Photo: Kevin Carter/Getty Images
Coca-Cola announced Tuesday that it's launching a line of drinks sweetened with U.S. cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup after President Trump spoke with company leaders.
Why it matters: The switch to cane sugar reflects the Make America Healthy Again movement's growing influence over the food industry's use of ultra-processed ingredients.
Driving the news: The MAHA movement, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is focused on removing processed ingredients such as seed oils, artificial dyes, and high-fructose corn syrup from foods.
- Americans' consumption of ultra-processed foods is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke in adults.
- "MAHA is winning," Kennedy wrote on X in response to fast food chain Steak and Shake announcing it would sell Coca-Cola with "real cane sugar" starting Aug. 1.
- Earlier this month, Kennedy cheered the U.S. dairy industry's announcement that more than 40 ice-cream makers would voluntarily stop using synthetic dyes in their scoops.
Yes, but: While cane sugar is less processed than corn syrup, they have basically the same weight gain and health effects, according to a 2022 analysis.
- The American Medical Association in 2023 said there was "insufficient evidence" to restrict the use of high fructose corn syrup in foods.
Read on for an explanation on the differences between corn syrup and cane sugar:
What is high-fructose corn syrup?
High-fructose corn syrup comes from processing corn starch. When the starch is broken down, the end product is corn syrup, which is essentially 100% glucose, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
- Enzymes are then added to the corn syrup to convert some of the glucose to another simple sugar called fructose. The "high" in the end result is because there's more fructose than the pure glucose in corn syrup.
How is cane sugar made?
Sugarcane is a tall perennial grass that is cut after it matures, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The cane stalks are crushed and the resulting liquid is extracted into syrup or crystallized into products like white or brown sugar.
Which one is healthier for you?
A systematic review of people consuming the two ingredients found that there were no major differences in terms of body weight, blood sugar, or insulin levels.
- The study did suggest that those who consumed high-fructose corn syrup were more likely to have higher inflammation levels than those who consumed cane sugar.
How are they used?
High fructose corn syrup is predominantly used in processed and packaged goods that need to have a long shelf life because its more stable than regular sugar.
- Cane sugar is most frequently used in dairy products and baked goods like cakes and bread, due to its granular texture and baking performance.
The bottom line: It doesn't really matter what type of sugar you eat or drink — the worst effects of sugar appear when you consume too much of it.
