Coca-Cola made a major announcement — or rather, confirmed an announcement made by President Donald Trump last week — that it will launch a cane sugar version of its soda later this year.

Domestic corn production has been boosted by nearly a century of subsidies in the form of direct payments, crop insurance programs, and price supports for American farmers. These totaled reached $3.2 billion in 2024, making corn the most-subsidized crop in the country.

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.

President Donald Trump said Coca-Cola agreed to use cane sugar in the U.S. How does that stack up with high-fructose corn syrup?

There was a time long, long ago when I was going to Sacramento State full-time while juggling three-part time jobs, a wedding photography business and a stint on the Western Placer Unified School Board that I actually went 32 hours without sleep.

For decades, makers of high-fructose corn syrup have been buffeted by the effects of criticism of the sucrose alternative. Critics looking to convince consumers to shun HFCS may find fertile ground once again in the wake of President Donald Trump writing in favor of Coke made with “real sugar,

Best bang for your buck: Domino Premium Pure Cane Granulated Sugar. Our take: From a brand name that has long ruled the sugar market comes a refined sugar at an unbeatable price.

According to Wendy’s nutritional information, the Peppermint Frosty is basically a classic Vanilla Frosty with Peppermint Syrup, which is made with pure cane sugar, water, and natural flavors.

For the first time in over 40 years, Coca‑Cola is bringing back a cane sugar–sweetened version of its iconic soda to the U.S. this fall. The move marks a nostalgic shift for the beverage giant, which famously replaced real sugar with high‑fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in the early 1980s due to rising costs.