President Donald Trump's announcement that Coca-Cola will transition to cane sugar could transform the beverage landscape for Jewish consumers, potentially making the iconic soft drink kosher year-round in the US rather than restricting availability to special Passover editions marked with distinctive yellow caps. The switch would eliminate the high-fructose corn syrup that currently renders regular Coca-Cola unsuitable for Passover observance, when Jewish dietary laws prohibit consumption of corn-based products categorized as kitniyot (legumes) by Ashkenazi Jews.
"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," Trump declared in a post on his Truth Social platform. "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!"
The beverage manufacturer responded with a measured statement on its corporate website. "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."
Since 1985, high-fructose corn syrup has served as Coca-Cola's principal sweetening agent in American products. The corporation presently employs cane sugar in beverages distributed across various international markets, including Mexico, the United Kingdom, Africa and the Middle East. Additionally, the company produces a restricted quantity of sugar-based Coke in the US as a kosher alternative for Passover – identifiable by yellow caps rather than the standard red ones.
The switch to cane sugar could potentially make Coca-Cola kosher year-round for Jewish consumers in the US. Throughout the year, Jewish organizations such as the Orthodox Union collaborate with companies to verify that food products meet dietary standards outlined in the Torah and Jewish law codes, Business Insider reported. Products meeting these requirements receive kosher certification – meaning fit or proper in Hebrew – with symbols displayed on packaging.
During Passover, Jewish dietary restrictions become more stringent and demand elevated certification levels, Business Insider noted. Many Jews observing Passover abstain from consuming anything classified as "chametz" – leavened foods or items containing leavening ingredients derived from barley, rye, oats, wheat, or spelt. Eastern European Jews of Ashkenazi heritage, comprising approximately 75% of the Jewish population, also avoid "kitniyot," which encompasses legumes and additional grains including corn.
"I have been speaking to @CocaCola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so. 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!" –President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/9L27oxlYUj
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 16, 2025
While Coca-Cola maintains kosher certification throughout the year, its high-fructose corn syrup renders it unsuitable for Passover consumption in the US. The beverage originally contained sucrose derived from cane or beet sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup, but when the company made the transition, Coca-Cola products became prohibited during Passover.
In 1935, Rabbi Tuvia Geffen, who led Atlanta's Congregation Shearith Israel for six decades, collaborated with the company to restore a limited production run of the original recipe during Passover periods, enabling observant Jews to continue enjoying the beverage during the holiday, The New York Times reported.
Trump's well-documented affinity for Diet Coke has characterized his relationship with the beverage manufacturer. The president's consumption habits have been extensively chronicled throughout his political career, and at one point a special red button was installed on his desk in the Oval Office to allow him to order Coke from his staff without having to leave the room or call anyone.
Prior to his second-term inauguration ceremony, Trump received a customized Presidential Commemorative Inaugural Diet Coke bottle from Coca-Cola Company Chairman and CEO James Quincey. The special presentation highlighted the ongoing connection between the president and the beverage brand.
Why the change?
Trump did not elaborate on the reasoning behind the modification. Nevertheless, the declaration emerges as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" movement builds momentum, advocating for eliminating HFCS from American food manufacturing. The campaign references research connecting HFCS to numerous health complications that contribute to obesity and chronic disease.
Scientific studies present conflicting evidence regarding whether cane sugar provides superior health benefits compared to HFCS, with research indicating that any supplemental sugars, irrespective of source, elevate the risk of Type 2 diabetes and additional ailments. Nutritional specialists recommend restricting added sugar consumption across all categories to fewer than 50 grams daily for most adults. A single 12-ounce Coke container contains approximately 39 grams of sugar.
Coke's switch from sugar to corn syrup
Coca-Cola's 1985 transformation to high-fructose corn syrup within the United States constituted primarily an economic determination, the corporation stated. The modification aligned with escalating sugar costs and agricultural policies that rendered corn syrup a more financially viable option.
