Coca-Cola to Launch New Soda With Cane Sugar: Will It Really Be Healthier?

Key TakeawaysCoca-Cola is set to introduce a new soda in the U.S. sweetened with cane sugar this fallThe move follows claims by President Donald Trump that cane sugar is better than the high-fructose corn syrup used many in U.S. Coke productsExperts note that both cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup can cause health problems.THURSDAY, July 24, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Coca-Cola is saying so long to high-fructose corn syrup and hello to cane sugar for a new soda launch this fall.“As part of its ongoing innovation agenda, this fall in the United States, the company plans to launch an offering made with U.S. cane sugar to expand its Trademark Coca-Cola product range,” the company said in a news release. Coca-Cola already makes soda with cane sugar in Mexico. It’s usually more expensive when it is imported and sold in the U.S.The announcement came on the heels of a statement by President Donald Trump, a Diet Coke devotee who suggested that cane sugar is better, according to CBS News. And the move has been widely viewed as a nod to better health.But is it?"Despite minor differences in chemical structure and metabolism, both cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup have similar health impacts when consumed in excess, especially in the form of sugar-sweetened beverages like soda," Avery Zenker, a registered dietitian in Ontario, Canada, told CBS News.Cane sugar is nearly 100% sucrose, which is roughly equal parts glucose and fructose, two forms of sugar. By contrast, the most common form of high-fructose corn syrup contains 55% fructose and 45% glucose.Both corn syrup and cane sugar raise blood sugar similarly and have the same number of calories, Zenker said. Research has shown that the two sugars pose similar risks for Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called on companies to stop using high-fructose corn syrup. CBS News noted he has described sugar as a "poison."The bottom line? Sugar-filled soda isn't good for you, regardless of the type of sugar used.The American Heart Association suggests limiting added sugar intake to 25 grams, or about six teaspoons, per day for women and 36 grams, or nine teaspoons, per day for men. The group says both high-fructose corn syrup and cane sugar are added sugars that people should limit.More informationThe American Heart Association offers advice on limiting added sugar.SOURCES: CBS News, July 22; Coca-Cola, news release, July 22, 2025 .What This Means For YouLimit the added sugar in your diet for better health..Sign up for our weekly HealthDay newsletter

Coca-Cola to Launch New Soda With Cane Sugar: Will It Really Be Healthier?

Related Stories