According to CCTV News, on July 16, local time, US President Trump stated on social platforms that The Coca-Cola Company has agreed to use real cane sugar to produce Coke in the United States instead of the current corn syrup.
However, the company responded immediately: It did not commit to making changes.
As a type of refined processed sugar, long-term excessive intake of sucrose will also increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, dental caries and other diseases. The health risks are the same as corn syrup.
In fact, the difference in flavor between the two sweeteners is minimal, but some American consumers believe that the high-cost cane sugar version of Coke has a more natural sweetness, a long-lasting sweetness in cold drinks, and a non-greasy finish.
Trump hopes to support the development of the local sugar industry by promoting formula adjustments. The American Corn Processors Association said that replacing corn syrup with cane sugar has no practical significance. Instead, it will lead to the loss of U.S. food manufacturing jobs and hurt farm income.
Some analysts pointed out that Florida, where Trump’s private residence Mar-a-Lago is located, is the largest sugar cane producer in the United States. The Florida Crystals Corporation, run by Republican financier Jose “Pepe” Fanjul, controls almost the entire sugar industry in Florida and operates a sugar and real estate empire worth $8.2 billion.
Public information shows that Fanjul was born in Cuba. He also has an older brother. He himself lives in the Dominican Republic most of the time and serves as the vice chairman and president of the family business Flo-Sun (mainly engaged in sugar cultivation and refining) and Florida Crystal Company. Fanjul is also the only certified organic cane sugar producer in the United States and owns the largest regenerative organic certified farm in the United States.
Florida Crystal, on the other hand, has been accused for decades of polluting the Florida Everglades ecosystem while buying off politicians with campaign donations.
Data from the political money tracking website OpenSecrets.org shows that the Fanjul family has invested tens of millions of dollars in political donations to Trump and Republican candidates.
During Trump's presidential campaign in 2016, Fanjul raised money for his platform many times. Fanjul's companies contributed a total of $2.9 million in 2024, about 99% of which went to Republicans.
The Fanjul family's largest single donation was an $85,000 donation to WinRed PAC, a Republican political action committee, in 2020. In May this year, the U.S. Department of the Treasury requested an investigation into whether WinRed PAC had engaged in fraud, bribery, foreign capital interference, etc. Democratic lawmakers pointed out that the committee may use misleading practices to attract donations.
