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Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Food and Drink, Jobs
Liv Bridge
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Food and Drink, Jobs
Donald Trump has proposed a Coca-Cola recipe change which could have a devastating impact on the US, an expert has warned.
Trump has claimed Coke could be switching up its long-loved recipe in America after the soft drink giant bosses had a conversation about the matter with the POTUS.
The 79-year-old, an avid fan of a Diet Coke, said he has been trying to coerce the company into changing it up by including real cane sugar as opposed to its current reliance on the substitute, high-fructose corn syrup. And, according to Trump, it has agreed to do.
Posting on Truth Social, the president wrote: "I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so.
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"I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them - You’ll see. It’s just better!"
It comes as Trump is pushing for US-produced sugar cane to be used in the manufacturing process of one of America's favorite sodas, and possibly other beverages in the food industry.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and others who form his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative have been urging for such changes and claim the proposal would make for a far healthier drink.
Kennedy said the consumption of high fructose corn syrup is unhealthy, reports Reuters.
However, some industry experts have said changes in the formula in the Coke specifically sold in the US would involve drastic adjustments to its supply chains, not only in the switch to cane sugar but in changes to its product labels, all of which could cost more to produce and possibly inflict onto the consumer.
"Food and beverage industries started to use corn syrup in the U.S. in the past because of costs. It is cheaper than sugar," Ron Sterk, a senior editor at SOSland Publishing which provides information for the ingredients industry in the States, told the news outlet.
He claimed the beverage industry uses a 55 percent high fructose corn syrup.
Meanwhile, it could adversely impact US farming too, as the Corn Refiners Association said eliminating high fructose corn syrup entirely from the US food and beverage sector would slash corn prices by up to 34 cents a bushel, presenting a loss of $5.1 billion in farm revenue.
In a statement, the association said: "The resulting economic shockwave would lead to rural job losses and significant economic consequences to communities across the country."
Analyst Heather Jones, of Heather Jones Research, also predicted that if Coca-Cola was to shift onto cane sugar, 'the cost increase would very likely exceed $1 billion given the current price gap between [high fructose corn syrup] and cane sugar and the probability of very large price increases for the latter'.
Still, Coca-Cola hasn't exactly wholeheartedly confirmed the change, stating: "We appreciate President Trump's enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand. More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon."