Coke and Pepsi both announced new drinks. Here's what's in them.
If you are an avid soda drinker, you will soon have more options to choose from, as two of the biggest names in the industry unveiled plans for new drinks this week.
Coca-Cola and PepsiCo both announced new beverages. Coke says it will add a new soda made with real cane sugar this fall, while Pepsi is hopping on the prebiotic soda bandwagon with the launch of Pepsi Prebiotic Cola.
Here is what to expect from each of the longtime beverage rivals' new offerings, and when you might be able to buy one for yourself.
Coca-Cola rolling out new drink using cane sugar
Coca-Cola said in its second-quarter earnings release on July 22 that it "plans to launch an offering made with U.S. cane sugar to expand its Trademark Coca-Cola product range."
The beverage giant made the announcement after President Donald Trump proclaimed on July 16 that Coca-Cola had agreed to use real cane sugar for its soda beverages sold in the U.S.
Coca-Cola stopped short of switching all U.S. drinks to cane sugar, instead offering an alternative to its standard U.S. beverages, which are made with high fructose corn syrup.
"I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so," Trump wrote on Truth Social July 16. "I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them – You’ll see. It’s just better!"
Coca-Cola currently uses high fructose corn syrup to sweeten its U.S. products while cane sugar is used in other countries, including Mexico, fueling a long-running debate on whether Mexican Coke is better than Coke in the U.S.
“We appreciate the President's enthusiasm for our Coca-Cola brand," James Quincey said during the earnings call. "This edition is designed to complement our strong core portfolio and offer more choice across occasions and preferences.”
Trump's announcement, in part, supports Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s efforts to move U.S. food production and consumption away from ingredients such as artificial dyes. While his Make America Healthy Again agenda has deemed both sweeteners unhealthy, some scientists say sugar has some nutritional benefits over high fructose corn syrup.
Pepsi joins prebiotic soda boom
Pepsi says its newly announced Prebiotic Cola will be available online starting this fall and in retail stores in early 2026. The drink will be available in Original Cola and Cherry Vanilla flavors, according to a news release, and each 12-ounce can will contain five grams of cane sugar, 30 calories and three grams of prebiotic fiber.
Prebiotic soda has boomed in recent years with popular brands such as Poppi, Olipop and Bloom. The soft drinks, served in bright, colorful cans, are promoted as healthy for the gut and better for consumers than traditional sodas. While dietitians agree with the latter, the drinks shouldn't be expected to cure gut health on their own.
Pepsi Prebiotic Cola comes just a few months after PepsiCo announced the acquisition of Poppi for $1.95 billion and Coca-Cola announced Simply Pop, its own line of prebiotic soft drinks.
Prebiotics are plant fibers that serve as food for the body's microbiome – the body's good bacteria, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Most prebiotic sodas contain between two to nine grams of prebiotic fiber per can, while the recommended daily value for fiber is 25 to 38 grams per day, the Cleveland Clinic states.
'Always looking for opportunities'
When asked about Coca-Cola's new cane sugar drink and Pepsi's prebiotic beverage on the July 22 earnings call, Quincey noted how the industry is "always looking for opportunities to innovate," even if those innovations don't always pan out.
"I don't think just us, but I think the industry, given its size, its attractiveness and its growth potential, we're always looking for opportunities to innovate and see where there's an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving toward remembering that actually most innovations don't work in the long run," Quincey said on the Coca-Cola earnings call.
"But it's a good sign that the industry, including ourselves, are trying lots of different things," Quincey said.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at Paste BN. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.
Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for Paste BN. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at Paste BN. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.