Coca-Cola bows to sugar

Coca-Cola will release a cane sugar–sweetened version of its flagship soda in the U.S. this fall, responding to consumer demand for more “natural” ingredients.

While Pepsi and Dr. Pepper have offered similar options since 2009, and Mexican Coke with cane sugar has been available since 2005, this marks the first broad U.S. rollout by Coca-Cola. Experts note there is little nutritional difference between cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup—both have similar calorie content and health risks like obesity and tooth decay.

Soda companies originally switched to corn syrup due to lower costs, aided by U.S. sugar tariffs and corn subsidies. Meanwhile, diet sodas use artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, which the World Health Organization recently labeled “possibly carcinogenic,” though the Food and Drug Administration maintains it is safe when used as approved.

Read more: Associated Press

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