Analysts Discuss the Ineffectiveness of Coke's Transition from Beet Sugar to Cane Sugar in Improving Consumer Health
In a move that could shake up the soda market, Coca-Cola has announced plans to sweeten some of its products with cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). However, this change may come at a price for consumers and the American food industry.
Mexico, America's southern neighbour, has long used cane sugar to sweeten Coca-Cola, but the drink is sold in the US at nearly twice the price. With the upcoming offering, consumers can expect to pay at least 10% more for the cane sugar-sweetened drinks.
The decision to use cane sugar instead of HFCS could cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs and boost imports of foreign sugar, according to experts. Cane sugar will cost Coca-Cola 12% more, according to personal finance outlet Kiplinger.
The U.S. does not grow enough cane sugar to meet the demand for Coca-Cola's new range, leaving importing as an option. The CEO of America's Corn Refiners Association wrote that replacing HFCS with cane sugar "doesn't make sense."
Despite the price increase and potential job losses, some argue that the switch to cane sugar is a healthier choice. However, experts caution that limiting consumption of both added sugars and HFCS is key rather than favoring one over the other.
While cane sugar and HFCS have minor chemical differences, their impact on health, especially regarding added sugars in sodas, is essentially the same. Both sweeteners contribute similarly to negative health outcomes like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, increased appetite, and liver disease when consumed in large quantities.
The switch from cane sugar to HFCS in the 1980s was influenced by U.S. farming subsidies that made corn syrup more affordable. The subsidies led to a cheaper corn-derived sweetener taking over the soda market.
One netizen sees Coca-Cola's cane sugar sodas as "diabetes from a better source," highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding the health implications of the switch.
References:
- Coca-Cola to use cane sugar in some U.S. drinks
- Cane sugar vs high fructose corn syrup: which is healthier?
- The truth about high fructose corn syrup
- Coca-Cola's switch to cane sugar: a marketing ploy or a healthier choice?
- The shift from high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to cane sugar in some Coca-Cola products could be viewed as a step towards health-and-wellness, as cane sugar is often associated with food-and-drink that promotes a healthy-cooking lifestyle.
- With concerns about the impact of added sugars on health, the move by Coca-Cola to sweeten its products with cane sugar instead of HFCS could spark discussions about the role of nutrition in fitness-and-exercise, health, and overall lifestyle.
- Despite Coca-Cola's announcement to use cane sugar in an attempt to improve the health profile of its products, experts warn that excessive consumption of both cane sugar and HFCS can lead to negative health consequences such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, increased appetite, and liver disease.
- The ongoing debate about whether the shift from HFCS to cane sugar is a marketing ploy or a more health-conscious decision in the food-and-drink industry is reflected in statements from netizens, who see the cane sugar-sweetened Coca-Cola as offering "diabetes from a better source."
