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By HPN Staff

Coca-Cola announced this week it will bring a limited run of Coca-Cola Classic made with cane sugar to U.S. shelves — a move that quickly drew praise from President Donald Trump, who took credit for the change in a post on Truth Social.

“We are bringing back real Coke, with real sugar, like it used to be,” he wrote, calling it a win for his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) campaign, which has targeted food additives like high-fructose corn syrup. But nutrition experts and public health advocates say the science isn’t so simple.

Why it matters

Coca-Cola says cane sugar–based versions of Coca-Cola Classic will hit select U.S. markets this fall, citing consumer demand. The rollout closely follows pressure from Trump and his MAHA  campaign, which has pushed for the removal of “fake ingredients” from processed foods.

Nutrition experts caution that MAHA’s ingredient-focused approach doesn’t necessarily translate to better health outcomes. Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup have nearly identical effects on the body — both contribute to weight gain, type 2 diabetes and heart disease when consumed in excess. Artificial sweeteners, while lower in calories, carry their own questions, with some studies linking them to metabolic shifts or increased cravings.

Critics argue that MAHA often favors slogans over science, spotlighting ingredients like seed oils and beef tallow without strong evidence of their health impact. While the rhetoric resonates politically, experts say it oversimplifies what’s needed to improve public health.

The big picture

Coca-Cola says its test run will begin later this year, with broader distribution possible if demand is strong.

MAHA, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Trump, has made waves advocating ingredient reforms — urging companies to ditch synthetic dyes, seed oils, HFCS and other ultra-processed additives. Brands like General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Starbucks and Sweetgreen have pledged voluntary changes aligning with MAHA’s goals. The fast-food chain Steak ’n Shake even switched to cooking its fries in beef tallow — a decision praised by Kennedy as emblematic of the MAHA agenda in action.

Additionally, the American Beverage Association recently launched a website detailing the ingredients found in popular soft drinks.

What’s next

Trump and the MAHA report say they’ll continue pressuring major brands to move away from artificial ingredients and return to “real food.”

Public health experts, meanwhile, say the bigger challenge remains cutting overall sugar consumption — not simply swapping sweeteners.


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