Pepsi looking to stop using diabetes-catapulting HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP since Trump encourages Coca-Cola to do the same with Coke
By sdwells // 2025-07-21
Copy
 
PepsiCo may be on the verge of a significant shift in how it sweetens its junk science beverages. On July 17, CEO Ramon Laguarta hinted that the company is open to replacing high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) with cane sugar in its beverages — a potential industry-wide pivot that comes just one day after former President Donald Trump claimed Coca-Cola would soon be making the same switch.
  • PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta signaled the company may shift from high-fructose corn syrup to cane sugar in its beverages, following consumer preferences and echoing a recent announcement by former President Trump that Coca-Cola would do the same.
  • Laguarta emphasized PepsiCo’s broader move toward more natural ingredients, saying the company is prioritizing consumer demand for simpler, real-food products across both snacks and drinks.
  • PepsiCo plans to relaunch its Lay’s and Tostitos brands to highlight their lack of artificial colors and flavors, part of a wider initiative to replace canola and soybean oils with olive and avocado oils.
  • While PepsiCo is expanding its “Simply” chip line, consumer engagement has been limited so far, raising questions about how the market will respond to upcoming rebranding efforts.

Pepsi exec floats switch to sugar after Trump Coca-Cola announcement

Laguarta’s comments came during an investor call, where he emphasized a consumer-driven approach to reformulating PepsiCo’s products. “If the consumer is telling us that they prefer products that have sugar and they prefer products that have natural ingredients, we will give the consumer products that have sugar and have natural ingredients,” he said. Laguarta noted this applied not only to beverages but also to the company’s food products. The discussion was triggered by Trump’s July 16 statement that Coca-Cola had agreed to shift back to using cane sugar in its drinks. While Coca-Cola has not confirmed a full-scale switch, a spokesperson acknowledged Trump’s support and said the company would soon release details about new innovations in its product line. Although some Coke products already contain cane sugar, most of its sodas in the U.S. are still sweetened with HFCS — a change that occurred in the 1980s for both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo due to cost efficiency. PepsiCo’s possible move signals a broader trend of companies responding to consumer demands for healthier, more natural ingredients. Laguarta highlighted this strategy across other PepsiCo brands, including Lay’s and Tostitos, which are being relaunched later this year to showcase the removal of artificial colors and flavors. He described the effort as an attempt to "elevate the real food perception of Lay’s," calling the basic potato chip — made from just potatoes, oil, and salt — one of the most natural snacks available. PepsiCo also announced it is moving away from commonly used seed oils like canola and soybean, opting instead for avocado and olive oils in certain products. This shift aligns with recommendations from some health advocates, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who have called for the elimination of seed oils from processed foods. Earlier in April, PepsiCo committed to accelerating its phase-out of artificial colors, following an FDA ban on two synthetic dyes. By the end of 2025, Lay’s and Tostitos will be fully free of artificial coloring, building on efforts seen in PepsiCo’s Simply line, which already offers chips without artificial additives. However, consumer response to these changes has been mixed. Christian Greiner, a senior portfolio manager at F/m Investments, noted that the Simply brand extensions have not yet gained significant traction. “Consumers have not engaged so far,” he said, adding that upcoming quarters will reveal whether broader rebranding efforts will resonate. If both PepsiCo and Coca-Cola ultimately reformulate their flagship sodas to use cane sugar, the move could mark a pivotal shift in the American beverage landscape — one potentially driven by changing consumer expectations and health-conscious trends. Tune your food news frequency to FoodSupply.news and get updates on more junk science food stuff that corporate America loads the grocery store shelves with to drive up chronic diseases and disorders so Big Pharma can take your money. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com Infowars.com NYPost.com Bloomberg.com
Copy