'It's just better!' President says Coca-Cola to change key US ingredient​

What is the tariff on importing sugar cane?

[quote]But any decision to use cane sugar instead might leave a bitter aftertaste for American corn farmers

This is absolutely going to fuck a lot of American farmers (who probably voted for Trump).

First, he takes their cheap labor, and then bans one of their major products.

Given that 'New Coke' practically ripped this country apart in the 80s, this has the potential to be truly explosive.

So people have been asking for this for what...20+ years? Buying Mexican coke because of the improved flavor has been around since early 2000s.

Basically Coke went MAGA and approved Kennedy's suggestion.

Not surprised - but let's call this what it really is.

Now Kennedy needs to ban all artificial colorings and flavorings in our food supply.

Corn has uses other than using it to make HFCS poison. People should be eating more corn pudding and more corn dogs and drink less Coke. Also, make more bourbon and other corn alcohol.

You'll NEVER see Pepsi-Cola with a sullied name splashed all over tabloid rags.

[quote] Basically Coke went MAGA and approved Kennedy's suggestion.

Is there anyone other than corn farmers and the food processors who is displeased by this decision?

This is something the American public has wanted for decades!

This is certainly going to further endear Trump to his base. Except for the corn farmers.

Fun fact, in the 1-2 months’ run-up to Passover each early Spring you can buy lots of sugar Coke and other similar sodas at kosher Jewish supermarkets if there’s one in your region. Pomegranate is the big one in Brooklyn.

It’s like 25% more expensive — and it DOES taste better.

Is this what the president is worried about? If Biden said it the MAGAts would lose thier shit.

Real sugar Coke is superior by far to the HFCS version, so this is a welcome change. However there was obviously no thought to how the price would change, or how it would affect corn suppliers.

So basically you want Mexican Coke. That's how it's made down here Donald. Please make a note of it.

[quote]Without explicitly confirming the recipe tweak, a Coca-Cola spokesperson said they "appreciate President's enthusiasm" and "more details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon".

This sounds more like "We'll add a few new items to our lineup," something they do several times per year anyway, than a sweeping overhaul of its most popular products.

Coca-Cola already makes this, they just dont sell it in the US. That's why buying Mexican Coke has become a thing with the younger crowds. It's been around for decades. Sort of a status symbol.

Sugar is more expensive than corn syrup

I thought MAGA was so concerned about the cost of everything?

"REAL SUGAR COKE!" Maga approved!

They don't need to tweak anything, it's been in production for decades from the real company, not some knock off.

Corn syrup is bad because it's all fructose which is processed in the liver. Consuming a lot of this stuff leads to obesity and fatty liver disease.

Table sugar is half fructose, half sucrose so it's better.

Following up to my R10 — in my experience the taste difference between sugar Coke and HFCS Coke is absolutely noticeable, and the taste difference between their Sprite and Ginger Ale counterparts is even more pronounced. Once you’ve become used to the purer fresher taste of cane-sugar ginger ale it’s hard to settle for HFCS Canada Dry.

CORN!!! WHEN DID I EAT CORN!!????

Sugar is not a health food. Sorry, MAGA. Bitching about corn syrup and "chemicals" and "artificial dye" like wellness grifters do ignores why Americans are unhealthy - we eat too much and don't work out enough. Putting sugar in everything won't change that

True, R22. Not only is there zero nutritional benefit to switching, but it’s going to cost a lot of lost American jobs.

My sole argument for it is the superior taste.

I drink DIET Coke, problem solved.

[quote] it’s going to cost a lot of lost American jobs.

That’s what people said about shutting down the Keystone XL pipeline, but somehow life went on.

According to the blind taste test at R18, the vast majority of taste testers preferred .... drum roll .... "American" Coke over "Mexican" coke.

HFCS is like drinking fat.

Good riddance.

I never said Mexican Coke was better, I was just pointing out it's been done already. It's still available if you want to buy it.

R26 I was just about to comment on that taste test. While the effort was admirable and the experimental design included most necessary controls, the author forgot one thing. The people he chose to be in his sample could have influenced the results. .If they were mostly Americans they would be familiar with American coke and simply liked the familiar taste better. One would have to do this test in Mexico to see if that's the case.

There used to be a saying among elder gays, If you sell it when you are young, you buy it back when you are old.

I wonder how true that is.

I have a dislike for any carbonated beverages regardless of how it is sweetened. That doesn't mean that I don't like sugar as I love sweet iced tea and lemonade. I used to mix sugar with artificial sweeteners like Equal or Splenda to reduce my carb/calorie intake. These days I try to get used to less sweetness, but I'll never go for unsweetened. I virtually never drink plain water either. I definitely avoid HFCS. At least the artificial sweeteners have fewer calories. HFCS has nothing going for it other than being cheap. It's high carbohydrate, high calorie and less healthy than regular sugar. No one should be using it.

What wonderful news, no Americans can be even fatter!

NOW Americans can be even fatter!

Won't someone please think of the Dr Pepper drinkers?

[quote] Table sugar is half fructose, half sucrose so it's better.

I am really messing up lately. Sucrose refers to both glucose and fructose. Fructose is what goes through the liver. Corn syrup is all fructose while table sugar is half fructose, half glucose.

I actually like Coke Zero - the few times a month I drink soda.

But soda has become VERY expensive where I live - SoCal. It's 2.99 for a regular 20 oz. I don't know if that's from a California law taxing it higher - but it's not inexpensive at all.

And I think people are drinking less all over the US. I wonder if this is a PR move to increase sales - and since soda prices have gone up so much anyway, that the higher cost won't turn people off from it.

[quote] Won't someone please think of the Dr Pepper drinkers?

Brand name soft drinks are too expensive. I drink Diet Dr. Thunder from Walmart with good old-fashioned aspartame.

[quote]It's 2.99 for a regular 20 oz.

It's a lot cheaper to buy 2-liters when they go on sale.

I buy and drink sugar Coke outside the US and it comes in glass bottles. It’s not just the sugar that makes it taste better, it’s the not-plastic, not-aluminum, glass bottle. Are they going to bring that back too?

Stinky only drinks Diet Coke, so why does he even care?

There isnt enough cane sugar refining capacity on the planet yet alone in the US for all of the US HFCS sweetened beverages to switch to cane sugar. It’s never going to happen.

That is something I hadn't thought of R41, and I'm sure you are right.

[quote] It’s never going to happen.

That means the people who are outraged by the switch have nothing to worry about.

It's a great marketing move for Coke and will increase sales.

Didn’t Coca Cola disavow this? Like to the effect they never endorsed that statement.

R45 Are you trying to suggest that our President said something untrue?

Apparently Coca Cola intends to continue selling Coke made of high fructose corn syrup, but will also launch a new version of Coke made with came sugar.

They already sell coke with cane sugar. That’s how it originally was to begin with.

R47, they already make it.

Didn’t the embargo with Cuba make them switch to corn syrup?

R39 I think you're right. Canned and plastic-bottled Coke tastes terrible, at least in the U.S. I can't remember the last time I had it from a glass bottle, but it usually tastes much better from a fountain. Strangely, Pepsi doesn't usually have the same problem.

You can buy sugar cane Coke in bottles at every supermarket in the US.

It’s Mexican Coke. Call it that and see how well it does. lol

I buy Mexican Coke. I have since it became available at the local Stop & Shop. It's been a few years now. It does taste better.

Florida is a fucking mess thanks to Dixie Crystals. It's an environmental nightmare. And I guess fuck farmers in the Midwest.

Sweetens: A Miracle Product

Yes, R54, Mexican Coke is called exactly that in grocery stores and sells at a higher price than regular Coke, so it's doing just fine under that name. Presumably this will just be bringing a version of that to the mainstream Coke brand. I'm guessing it will still be priced at a premium.

I have been to upscale drinking establishment ordering a cocktail where I have been asked if I want regular or Mexican coke which usually comes with the glass bottle.