"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.

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There's no better way to cool down during summer than with a refreshing drink. But if you ask cooking and entertaining guru Martha Stewart, she suggests upgrading your regular can of Coca-Cola and turning it into an especially sweet treat.

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A post shared by Martha Stewart (@marthastewart)

On her Instagram, Martha recently shared how she prepares her version of a float. Originally, a Coke float is a dessert drink composed of two main ingredients: Coke (or a similar carbonated beverage) and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The Coke is poured into a tall glass, and then the ice cream is placed on top, where it "floats" on the surface. As the ice cream begins to melt, it creates a creamy, frothy layer.

But you can count on Martha Stewart to give this dessert-drink a worthy upgrade, and she does it using ice cubes made from Coke, a cold bottle of the beverage, and a giant scoop of fresh whipped cream instead of ice cream, which is typically required for the dessert drink.

First, she pours the Coke into ice cube trays for freezing. "This way, you can enjoy truly cold Coca-Cola," Martha Stewart said in the video, and any true Coke lover who hates when ice made from water melts into their drink can appreciate the tip and relate.

Several followers recommended using vanilla ice cream to make the classic float, while others wrote that it reminded them of a "dirty soda," the viral drink that typically includes some type of carbonated beverage, cream, and flavored syrups.

No matter what you call Martha's version of the classic float, there's no doubt that this drink is a tasty treat for the hot weather affecting us. "Perfect for summer, brings back memories of days gone by," Martha Stewart said. Even if the combination with whipped cream challenges you a bit, there's no doubt that the Coke-ice tip is worth adopting.

The post No more watered-down Coke: Martha Stewart's 'genius' ice cube trick appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Coca-Cola has found itself embroiled in a controversy in Bangladesh after airing an advertisement that aimed to distance the brand from Israel amid a significant boycott resulting from the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The 60-second video, which aired on Bangladeshi TV and YouTube on June 9, depicted a shopkeeper convincing a reluctant buyer to purchase Coca-Cola by stating that the beverage "is not at all from that place," referring to Israel and that the company "also has a factory in Palestine." While the advertisement did not explicitly mention Israel, it became evident that the reference was directed towards the country.

Coke Gets In A Bangladeshi Fizz For Denying Israel Ties

The multinational is facing a backlash for an ad that it released in Bangladesh which critics say is an attempt to play down its links to Israel and criticism for its alleged support of the Gaza war.

Some have pointed out… pic.twitter.com/4zkvoJk0m0

— RT_India (@RT_India_news) June 12, 2024

Social media accounts of Coca-Cola Bangladesh were soon inundated with comments from Bangladeshis criticizing the claims made in the ad. According to Arab News, Sohel Rahman, a businessman from Dhaka, described the advertisement as "an attempt to fool the audience" by distorting the facts.

Coca-Cola Co. has maintained close ties with Israel since the 1960s and was honored by the Israeli government in 1997 for "refusing to abide by the Arab League economic boycott of Israel." The company owns dairy farms in Israeli settlements in the Jordan Valley and a plant in the Golan Heights.

Sadia Ahmed, an executive from Dhaka's Gulshan area, viewed the campaign as a "mockery" and misinformation. "The campaign hid this information deliberately to play with the sentiments of the Bangladeshi people. The advertisers thought it would help boost its sales. But the result was the opposite," she told Arab News. "Now, our boycotting campaign is even stronger, as Coke directly supports Israeli aggression on Palestine."

While Coca-Cola removed the advertisement from its social media channels on Wednesday and ceased airing it on local TV, the video continued to circulate on social media, drawing comments such as "This feels desperate," "This advertisement is trying to fool innocent people," and "Boycott the actors too."

Saraf Ahmed Zibon, the actor portraying the main character in the ad, took to Facebook earlier this week to clarify that he "had never been in favor of Israel" and had presented information and data provided by Coca-Cola.

The issue of "Palestine" is highly sensitive in Bangladesh and advocacy for "Palestine" is officially part of the country's foreign policy. According to Dr. Rasheda Rawnak Khan, an associate professor at the Department of Anthropology of Dhaka University, "It's very much clear that this new Coke advertisement is political propaganda. This propaganda can't be accepted in any case. It hurts the sentiment."

Coca-Cola's attempt to win back Bangladeshis appears to have backfired. "Coke failed to internalize the sentiment of 180 million people of Bangladesh ... and made this socially and culturally (insensitive) advertisement to re-brand in the local market," Prof. A.S.M. Amanullah, a sociologist from Dhaka University, told Arab News. "The attempt has backfired ... I believe, in a couple of weeks, Coke's sales could be reduced to 50 percent."

A drop in demand for Coca-Cola has already been observed since October and has plunged further since the beginning of this week, with local soft drink brands gaining prominence. "Last week, the demand was four times higher ... A significant part of Coke's annual sales used to happen during Eid Al-Adha. But this year, it seems that the total sales of Coke will fall drastically," said Arifur Rahman, a grocery store owner at Dhanmondi, Dhaka, as reported by Arab News. In recent days, it gained even greater prominence in Israel after Israeli hostage Noa Argamani, who had been held by Hamas for eigth months, was seen celebrating her dramatic release by Israeli troops while drinking Coca Cola.

Coca-Cola Bangladesh has not responded to repeated requests for comment about the commercial and its sales in the country, The Arab News reported. 

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Coca-Cola said that it decided to launch its mango flavor based on market research, which indicated that mango was a hit with Israeli taste buds.

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However, some of the Israelis who took part in the taste test wondered why it was necessary to drink mango-flavored Coke when lovers of the tropical fruit could simply buy mango juice or other mango-flavored drinks.

Others said that it took some time to grow accustomed to the taste, but noted that it was tastier after having been in the freezer for an hour.

Coke Zero Mango will be available in 1.5-liter bottles and 330-ml. cans. 

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