No, Coca-Cola With Cane Sugar Received’t Be More healthy for Youngsters

Coca-Cola introduced it is launching a product made with cane sugar this fall, altering its recipe up from the standard high-fructose corn syrup.

“This addition is designed to enhance the corporate’s robust core portfolio and supply extra selections throughout events and preferences,” the firm shared in its second quarter outcomes report launched on July 22, 2025.

The concoction is not completely new as the corporate makes use of cane sugar in drinks present in different nations, together with Mexico and a few European nations. However bringing it to the U.S. is a primary, and the information has sparked a lot dialogue. That features many claiming that cane sugar is more healthy than high-fructose corn syrup.

Mother and father could now be questioning whether or not a cane sugar drink shall be a more healthy choice for his or her kiddos. Not fairly. Specialists break it down.

Cane Sugar vs. Excessive-Fructose Corn Syrup

Cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are each types of sugar, however they arrive from totally different sources.

“Cane sugar is constructed from the sugarcane plant and is made up of two easy sugars, about half glucose and half fructose, which is usually known as fruit sugar since it’s discovered in lots of plant meals,” explains Alicia Miller, MS, RD, LDN, a registered dietitian and mother based mostly in Montgomery, Alabama.

As for HFCS, it begins as a syrup constructed from cornstarch. “It begins out principally as glucose, after which enzymes are added as a way to convert a few of that glucose into fructose, creating the next quantity of fructose, therefore the identify,” says Miller.

Neither of the 2 are inherently “unhealthy” and could be a part of a traditional, nutritious diet, she provides.

Is Cane Sugar More healthy Than Excessive-Fructose Corn Syrup?

Whereas some could discover a distinction in style between the 2 sweeteners, one is not a more healthy choice than the opposite.

“There’s no present analysis displaying that cane sugar is more healthy than HFCS, particularly on the subject of metabolic well being,” says Miller. “Nutritionally, they’re practically an identical and have the identical impact on the physique.”

Alexis Legislation, RDN, a registered dietitian with High Diet Teaching, agrees, including, “They’re each sugar. So, it is going to be the identical except for any purpose there’s much less sugar general in it.”

When eaten frequently and in giant quantities, each cane sugar and HFCS can result in well being points, reminiscent of hypertension, kind 2 diabetes, and coronary heart illness.

So, why would possibly folks assume cane sugar is a greater choice? Miller says a lot of that comes all the way down to the notion that it is much less processed.

“For households preferring to attenuate processing of their meals, that may really feel like a significant selection,” she provides. “However ‘much less processed’ doesn’t routinely imply more healthy. And on this case, it modifications nothing concerning the dietary worth of a soda like Coca-Cola.”

A can of Coca-Cola comprises practically 40 grams of sugar, it doesn’t matter what sweetener is used. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that youngsters over the age of two devour lower than 25 grams of added sugar per day. Added sugar will not be really useful for teenagers beneath 2.

“So no, Coke with cane sugar isn’t a more healthy choice for teenagers,” says Miller.

However What if Your Child Likes Tender Drinks?

Since delicate drinks lack important vitamins, the hot button is moderation. “It’s fantastic to have a sugary beverage occasionally,” says Legislation.

However analysis has discovered that just about two-thirds of youngsters within the U.S. drink sugary drinks each day.

“If a toddler is consuming a couple of sugar-sweetened beverage a day, I like to recommend progressively scaling again,” says Miller. “Begin by lowering to at least one per day, then proceed slicing again as you enhance the consumption of extra health-promoting drinks like water or milk.”

That does not imply slicing out delicate drinks from their eating regimen fully. “When there’s an excessive amount of restriction, generally children will find yourself going approach over on meals they’re restricted from after they have the chance,” explains Legislation.

As an alternative, train children to have a wholesome relationship with what they devour. Specialists suggest not labeling meals as “good” or “unhealthy,” being aware of the way you speak about meals and your physique in entrance of them, and setting an excellent instance by maintaining a healthy diet. And permit them to have interaction in an occasional deal with.

“The aim isn’t perfection,” says Miller. “It’s discovering stability that helps their progress and long-term well being.”