President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Coca-Cola agreed to use real cane sugar in its US sodas at his suggestion, though the company did not confirm the change. A shift from high-fructose corn syrup would align US Coke with versions sold in Mexico and Australia. Diet Coke, sweetened with aspartame, would be unaffected.

PresidentDonald Trumpsaid Wednesday thatCoca-Colahas agreed to use real cane sugar in its flagship soft drink in the US at his suggestion though the company didn't confirm such a move.

Any switch from high-fructose corn syrup in Coke sold in the United States would putCoca-Colamore in line with its practice in other countries, including Mexico and Australia. But it wouldn't affect Trump's drink of choice, Diet Coke, which uses aspartame as a calorie-free beverage.

I have been speaking toCoca-Colaabout using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so, Trump wrote on his social media site. Id like to thank all of those in authority atCoca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them Youll see. Its just better!

A spokesperson for Atlanta-basedCoca-ColaCo. said in a statement that the company appreciated Trumps enthusiasm and promised that more details on new offerings within its products would be shared soon.

Coca-Coladidnt elaborate. But the company has long indulged US fans of cane sugar by importing glass bottles of Mexican Coke to the US since 2005.

Returning to sugar in US production, meanwhile, might affect the nations corn farmers, whose yields are used in artificial sweeteners.

Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesnt make sense," Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode said in a statement. "President Trump stands for American manufacturing jobs, American farmers, and reducing the trade deficit. 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.

Trump himself is such a fan of Diet Coke that that he had a red button installed on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office that he can press to have a White House butler bring one in for him.

Despite his fondness for Diet Coke, his relationship with the company hasn't always been sweet.

In a series of posts in 2012, Trump suggested diet soda might be connected to weight gain before eventually writing, TheCocaColacompany is not happy with me thats okay, Ill still keep drinking that garbage.

A bottle of Diet Coke could be seen sitting next to his chair years later, at a G20 summit in 2017. And The New York Times reported in 2018 that he was drinking a dozen Diet Cokes daily.

(FRANCE 24 with AP)

Originally published on France24