(NewsNation) — Is so-called Mexican Coke doomed, now that Coca-Cola supposedly is switching to cane sugar in the U.S.? One food industry analyst doubts President Trump’s claims the beverage giant will actually make such a move here.
Supermarket Guru editor Phil Lempert said phasing out high-fructose corn syrup and retooling Coca-Cola production for cane sugar — effectively making Mexican Coke domestically — would drive up costs for American consumers.
“I don’t think that Coke is going to do it,” Lempert told NewsNation on Thursday. “It’s going to increase the price. We’ve got situations with cane sugar around the world, especially from Brazil. So, source of supply is a problem.”
Trump says Coke will shift to cane sugar. But increasingly, shoppers want no sugar in their sodas
Trump on Wednesday praised Coca-Cola for supposedly pivoting to cane sugar, which some health advocates say is healthier than corn sweeteners. Others prefer the taste of beverages produced with cane sugar, such as the “Hecho en Mexico” Coke that has gained increasing traction in the U.S. marketplace.
Once a novelty product, Mexican-bottled Coke has become widely available at supermarkets and restaurants and is even sold in bulk at Costco. Another plus for fans of the Mexican version: It comes in an old-school glass bottle, rather than a plastic container or an aluminum can.
“I hate summertime when we go to convenience stores and supermarkets, and they’ve got the cases of Coke or Pepsi in plastic (containers) outside, because plastic is not a stable substance,” Lempert said.
He questions whether Trump has actually talked with Coca-Cola and notes the president is famous for consuming Diet Coke, not its caloric cousin. Lempert added that Trump’s health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is a staunch opponent of added sugar.
Coca-Cola did not confirm the accuracy of the president’s comment but told Newsweek, “More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca‑Cola product range will be shared soon.”
Lempert speculates Coke may try to develop specialty products that incorporate cane sugar: “If I look at the market, the way it’s changing, I think it’s prebiotic, I think it’s cane sugar. It’s more interesting flavors. That’s where the growth of the category is. It’s not with plain old Coke and Pepsi.”
Meantime, one clear opponent of Coca-Cola using cane sugar has emerged. The Corn Refiners Association warns that dumping corn sweeteners would harm U.S. farmers.
