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Story at-a-glance

• President Trump launched Make America Healthy Again in February 2025. In July 2025, he ordered Coca-Cola to replace high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) with cane sugar in their products for public health benefits
• The corn industry warns switching would cost jobs and disrupt the lives of many Americans who have made it their livelihood
• Research shows HFCS significantly raises C-reactive protein (CRP) levels compared to cane sugar, promoting chronic inflammation linked to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer risks
• HFCS contains undisclosed starches that quadruple actual calorie content and trigger inflammatory responses, gut bacteria imbalances, and allergies among consumers
• Soda also contains high amounts of phosphate, a preservative and flavor enhancer that causes kidney damage and vascular calcification when consumed in high amounts

To improve public health, President Trump initiated the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) campaign back in February 2025.1 The program is led by the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr.2

One of the newest MAHA policies is ordering Coca-Cola to abandon high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and return to cane sugar for their product lineup. Trump noted that switching sweeteners would significantly boost public health, stirring up public discussion and corporate pushback.

Trump's Sweetener Swap Sparks Soda Controversy

According to a news article published by Newsweek, President Trump demanded that Coca-Cola use cane sugar instead of HFCS in their beverages. Trump's call for this change, which he framed as a significant public health benefit, gained rapid attention and became a focal point of debate, both politically and scientifically.3

• Why HFCS was used in sodas — Newsweek explained that HFCS originally became the sweetener of choice primarily due to economic factors, most notably government subsidies for corn farmers. This drastically reduced production costs compared to cane sugar while increasing profits for soda companies.

Consequently, HFCS quickly dominated the U.S. soda industry. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola continues to use cane sugar in their products sold in other countries. However, President Trump’s announcement caused a shift.4

• Coca-Cola responds — A week after President Trump made the announcement, Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey confirmed that they will release a cane sugar-sweetened version of their product by fall this year.

While the company has sold Mexican Coke (which uses cane sugar and is sold in glass bottles) in the U.S. since 2005,5 it’s only positioned as an alternative — not a flagship product. On the other hand, the company’s upcoming cane sugar product will be more widely available.6

• Economic implications — While the government is pushing for soda manufacturers to use cane sugar as the sweetener, farmers are quick to explain the eventual losses. According to the Corn Refiners Association, "Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit."7

• The health debate around HFCS — In addition to the economic consequences of a drastic switch, there is also the matter of consumer wellness. According to government authorities, switching to cane sugar “would yield major public health benefits.”8 However, Coca-Cola and medical authorities believe that HFCS and cane sugar are virtually the same.

• Cane sugar as an energy source — On first glance, the argument that switching to cane sugar as a healthier approach makes sense. In fact, bioenergetic researcher Georgi Dinkov previously mentioned that:

"Cane sugar, if it's pure, has a very different overall systemic health effect than high fructose corn syrup … I think most of the sugar sold in the crystal form, especially organic ones, is pretty safe. Heavy metal contamination used to be a problem in sugar distillation but it looks like most of the western countries have sorted this out …”

• The devil is in the details — While authorities mentioned that switching to cane sugar will be healthier, they forgot to mention one important clue — sodas, no matter what sweetener is used, are still processed and refined to the point that they will harm your health.

In the end, soda itself remains fundamentally unhealthy. It causes rapid blood sugar spikes, disrupts insulin sensitivity, and contributes to obesity, metabolic dysfunction, and chronic disease.

HFCS vs. Cane Sugar

Putting aside the debate between HFCS and cane sugar in sodas for a moment, published research shows that there is some truth to what President Trump and RFK Jr. are claiming.

In a meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Nutrition, researchers examined whether HFCS and sucrose (which is extracted from cane sugar) differ significantly in their effects on your body. They combined data from four studies, involving a total of 767 adult participants, which varied widely in health status. Some studies were comprised of entirely healthy adults, while others faced issues like obesity or impaired glucose tolerance.9

• HFCS causes higher levels of inflammation — Regardless of the health status of the participants, the study found that the choice of sweeteners didn't affect measures like body weight, fat mass, blood lipids, glucose levels, or blood pressure. But the researchers did find something important that sets HFCS apart from regular table sugar — inflammation.

Consuming HFCS significantly raises levels of an inflammatory marker called C-reactive protein (CRP). Specifically, participants who consumed HFCS had a notable increase in CRP levels — about 0.27 milligrams per liter (mg/L) higher compared to those consuming sucrose. While this might not sound like much, even small increases in CRP can substantially elevate your risk for serious health problems like heart disease and diabetes.

• CRP as a biomarker of inflammation — Elevated CRP levels indicate ongoing, chronic inflammation in your body. Eventually, this state contributes directly to major health problems, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and even cancer. Therefore, limiting inflammation is one of the smartest ways to proactively protect your health, making the choice between HFCS and cane sugar more important than many people realize.

• HFCS affects all consumers — Although the participants included healthy individuals and those with existing metabolic issues, the rise in CRP was consistent across all groups.

In other words, no matter what your current health condition, regularly consuming products sweetened with HFCS consistently promotes inflammation within your body. This finding highlights the importance of reducing or eliminating HFCS-containing products, even if you don't currently experience metabolic issues or obesity.

• Oxidative stress is created upon exposure — So how does HFCS create this inflammatory response? The authors of the analysis explain that the key lies in how your cells respond upon exposure:10

“[F]ructose-containing sweeteners, such as HFCS and sucrose, can induce the inflammatory process. This is conceivably attributable to the unique metabolic process of fructose, which can cause oxidative stress to cells by elevating the intracellular levels of uric acid and reactive oxygen species.

To overcome the oxidative stress, cells release molecules such as monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukins, which are pro-inflammatory in nature and thus augment the inflammation process.”

The study shows how sucrose is safer in terms of inflammation risk. However, don't mistake that finding as a green light for unlimited sucrose intake — moderation is still important. In the same way, reducing inflammation by avoiding HFCS is a straightforward step toward improving your long-term health. While cutting out sugary drinks and processed foods sweetened with HFCS may initially seem challenging, the payoff is unquestionably worth it.

HCFS Contains Hidden Starches

In addition to the increased inflammation, HFCS also contains another ingredient that contributes to worsening public health.

• There’s more to HFCS than sugar — They contain hidden starches that aren’t accounted for in their listed calorie content. Once you factor in this overlooked ingredient, the actual calorie load of a soda is up to four times higher than what the label claims. In short, you're consuming a lot more calories than you think, leading to weight gain and other hallmarks of HFCS consumption.

• The concerns go beyond just calories — The starch found in these drinks is composed of ultrafine particles that bypass normal digestion and enter directly into your bloodstream. This can trigger allergic responses in some people.

Starch molecules produce their own inflammatory response, causing your body to release compounds like histamine, nitric oxide, and serotonin, which are known to produce symptoms such as sneezing or itchy eyes, even when it’s not allergy season. As Dinkov noted, these unexpected reactions indicate that your body is responding to something you consumed, and HFCS is to blame.11

• Gut function is affected — Those same starch particles provide food for harmful bacteria in the gut. This leads to increased production of inflammatory toxins, which worsen digestive disorders like small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). The risk is especially high for people taking proton pump inhibitors, which lower stomach acid and reduce the body’s natural defense against these bacterial imbalances.

HFCS Increases Your Diabetes Risk Even if You’re Not Obese

Obesity is largely linked to weight gain, but it’s possible for you to become diabetic even without gaining those extra pounds. In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers analyzed the effects of sugar-sweetened beverages on 40,389 participants over a 20-year period. Their goal was to evaluate how sugary drinks influenced the risk for diabetes, even accounting for other factors such as weight and activity levels.12

• Drinking soda increases risk of diabetes — According to the findings, participants who consumed one or more servings of sugary drinks per day have a 16% higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes compared to those who rarely had these products.

• One small change already makes a big difference — Analysis showed that replacing just one serving of a sugary drink with a healthier alternative, such as water or coffee, lowered diabetes risk by 17% already. For those who are aware of the impact of sodas on their health but are struggling to minimize intake, this is a meaningful finding — you don’t need to revamp your diet overnight.

• Sodas carried the highest risk — The researchers analyzed different sweetened drinks, such as fruit punches and lemonades, finding that they also raised diabetes risk. However, none of them were as damaging as sodas, possibly due to the combination of high amounts of refined sugar and additives.

Phosphate in Soda — More Harmful Than HFCS

Aside from HFCS, soda contains other ingredients designed to make it tasty, palatable, and addictive to consumers — all designed to keep them coming back for more. One such example is phosphate. And while majority of the research highlights the negative effects of HFCS, I believe this additive poses a much bigger danger to your health.

• A primer on phosphate — A study published in the Journal of Renal Nutrition explains that phosphate is an unnatural ingredient used in sodas:13

“[T]he amount of phosphorus absorbed from food additives is much higher (>90%) than that of natural sources, such as animal and plant proteins (40-60%). Several preservative and additive salts containing phosphorus are found in processed, convenience foods.

These additives are useful in prolonging shelf life, enhancing flavor, retaining moisture, and improving the color of the food item. The form of phosphorus in additives is not bound to protein, but rather it is a salt that is readily absorbed in the intestinal tract.”

• Health effects of phosphate — Going back to the Journal of Renal Nutrition study, the researchers noted that high amounts of phosphate harm kidney function.14 In addition, it causes vascular and renal calcification, as well as endothelial dysfunction.15 Another study shows that high phosphate intake increases your risk of all-cause mortality, and soda consumption has been identified as a contributing factor to this.16

• Phosphate use is widespread — Despite the evidence on its detrimental health effects, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of phosphate. A quick search on their website17 shows the different phosphates used in making ultraprocessed foods.

• Phosphate and HFCS combined — While HFCS has already been extensively studied, the research I highlighted above shed light on the dangers of high phosphate consumption to your health.

However, the more important takeaway here is the combination of the two — When you drink a can of soda, you’re damaging your kidneys and creating insulin resistance, as well as promoting obesity and vascular calcification. Hence, the best course of action is to avoid drinking all types of soda — whether they use HFCS or other sweeteners.

Remove Soda from Your Life to Protect Your Health

If you're concerned about inflammation and metabolic health, addressing your consumption of processed sugary drinks is a good starting point. Here are strategies to help you in this regard:

1. Eliminate soda completely — The single most effective step is to remove soda entirely from your diet. Soda provides liquid sugar that floods your system quickly, triggering rapid blood sugar spikes and overloading your liver.

Moreover, no matter which sweetener soda companies use, it harms your health simply because it’s already refined and chemically altered. By cutting soda out, you directly stop the major source of unnecessary sugars causing inflammation.

2. Flavor your water naturally — If plain water feels bland, enhance it naturally. Add slices of fresh fruits like berries, lemons, limes, or cucumbers. This not only adds refreshing flavors but also provides vitamins and antioxidants without excessively sweetening it.

3. Use natural glucose found in healthy foods — As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, glucose is your body’s preferred source of energy. While cane sugar has it, I recommend getting it from whole fruits instead.

When you eat an apple or a handful of berries, you’re also taking in fiber, water, and antioxidants. This slows down absorption, giving your body time to respond in an appropriate manner. Plus, your liver doesn't suddenly become overloaded with sugar.

4. Replace one soda a day with black coffee or green tea — Echoing the study earlier, replacing one sugary drink from your usual habits can already make a positive impact on your health. I recommend replacing it with coffee or green tea, which are healthy beverages.

5. Gradually adjust your taste buds — Your palate adjusts over time, and cravings diminish significantly once you reduce sugar intake. Slowly decreasing sugary drinks and sweets will reset your taste preferences. Eventually, your cravings will naturally diminish, helping you maintain long-term dietary improvements effortlessly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About HFCS in Sodas

Q: Why did President Trump call for Coca-Cola to stop using high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)?

A: In February 2025, President Trump launched the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) campaign and directed Coca-Cola to switch from HFCS to cane sugar. He argued that this change would bring significant public health benefits. The move was met with media attention and controversy, with critics questioning its economic impact and scientific backing.

Q: Is HFCS worse than cane sugar for your health?

A: According to research, HFCS elevates inflammation markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) more than cane sugar. While both sweeteners have similar impacts on weight and glucose levels, HFCS consistently triggered higher inflammatory responses, which are linked to heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.

Q: What are the hidden dangers in HFCS-sweetened beverages?

A: HFCS-containing drinks often harbor hidden starches not listed in their calorie counts. These starch particles may bypass digestion, enter the bloodstream, and trigger allergic or inflammatory reactions. They also feed harmful gut bacteria, worsening gut disorders like SIBO, particularly in those using acid-reducing medications.

Q: Does drinking soda increase the risk of diabetes, even if you're not overweight?

A: Yes. Research found that just one sugary drink per day raises the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 16%, regardless of body weight. Replacing just one soda with a healthier beverage like water or black coffee can reduce diabetes risk by 17%.

Q: What’s the healthiest way to reduce your intake of sugary drinks?

A: Start by completely removing soda from your diet because it offers no nutritional value and drives up inflammation. You can ease the transition by drinking naturally flavored water, replacing sodas with black coffee or green tea, and enjoying fruits for natural sugars. Over time, your taste buds will adjust, making it easier to sustain these changes.

Sources and References

• 1 The White House, February 13, 2025
• 2 HHS, “Celebrating Big Wins of the Trump Administration”
• 3, 4, 7, 8 Newsweek, July 17, 2025
• 5 AP News, July 23, 2025
• 6 KCRA July 23, 2025
• 9, 10 Front Nutr. 2022 Sep 27;9:1013310
• 11 YouTube, Dr. Mercola, June 27, 2024
• 12 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2011 Mar 23;93(6):1321-1327
• 13, 14 Journal of Renal Nutrition, Volume 24, Issue 1e1-e4, January 2014
• 15 Annu Rev Nutr. 2017 Jun 14;37:321-346
• 16 Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Nov 13;99(2):320-327
• 17 U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS)