Coca-Cola to sell classic Coke with cane sugar in US following Trump request. Here’s when
Coca-Cola, one of Georgia’s oldest and most significant companies, has made national headlines with an announcement stating it will debut a new version of the original Coke in the fall, made with real U.S. cane sugar.
The Atlanta-based beverage giant revealed Tuesday, as part of the company’s second-quarter earnings report , it plans to expand its core product lineup in response to evolving consumer taste and recent comments from President Donald Trump.
Why now?
The decision comes days after President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social alleging he’d spoken to Coca-Cola about using real cane sugar and that the company had agreed to do so. The president’s post urging the company to bring back real sugar to American Coke, is a nostalgic nod to the pre-1980s recipe popular before high-fructose corn syrup became industry-standard.
The announcement also ties closely to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s well-known stance against high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). A New York Times report highlighted Kennedy’s views about the sweetener, quoting him as saying, high-fructose corn syrup is “merely a recipe for obesity and diabetes.”
What we know
While Coca-Cola has occasionally released limited-edition, cane sugar-based versions, such as “Mexican Coke,” this is the company’s first major rollout of a cane sugar Coke alongside the classic recipe in U.S. stores.
This new version will complement, but not replace, the classic Coke made with high-fructose corn syrup and both options will be available as soon as fall, Coca-Cola says.
Whether you’re a longtime “Coke Classic” loyalist or curious about the taste of cane sugar in America’s favorite soft drink, this fall you’ll have a new option at the grocery store.
Are you excited to sample this “new” Coke? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.
This story was originally published July 22, 2025 at 9:58 AM with the headline "Coca-Cola to sell classic Coke with cane sugar in US following Trump request. Here’s when."
