[jillesvangurp]

> I think high fructose corn syrup may be a North American thing

It is. It's not a common ingredient here in Europe or most places in the world. Corn syrup is a weird side effect of subsidized corn farming in the US. This causes all sorts of health issues in the population.

Anyway, you'd struggle to find it in supermarkets or in food outside the US. Even coca cola doesn't use corn syrup in it's beverages outside the US. As far as I know, there is no major taste difference and I've never heard any US people complain about their coke tasting a bit off outside the US. But I don't drink cola that often myself.

[LargoLasskhyfv]

Have you ever heard of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_sugar_syrup ?

( https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invertzucker#Verwendung )

It is listed on so many labels as ingredient that it is really hard to avoid.

[dylan604]

> As far as I know, there is no major taste difference and I've never heard any US people complain about their coke tasting a bit off outside the US.

Apparently, you are not well informed about the happenings across the pond. It is well known that Coke made in Mexico uses sugar, and it is a known thing in the US to get Mexican Coke. There used to be a small plant in Dublin, Texas that made Dr. Pepper with sugar that was a well known for the different taste. Eventually Dr. Pepper won it's case against the Dublin plant and it is no longer available.

To claim that there's no taste difference between sugar vs HCFS just shows you're not well informed on the topic.

[rileymat2]

It is not straightforward, psychology plays a big part in perception. https://www.seriouseats.com/coke-vs-mexican-coke#toc-what-do...

> Regardless of what was actually in the serving containers, people stuck by their original choice. Those who preferred what really was the Mexican Coke the first time (we'll call these guys the Mexico Boosters) unanimously picked the Coke that I told them was the Mexican Coke the second time, whether it really was or was not. Even when the containers were completely removed from the test and the Coke was served in plastic cups, the Coke labeled as Mexican was picked by the Mexico Boosters every time.

[sickofparadox]

Dr. Pepper does make, in limited quantities, its own version[1] of the real sugar deal. It isn't stocked at major supermarkets - in fact, I've only ever bought it at a liquor store in Texas. It's fantastic!

[1] https://www.drpepper.com/s/products/dr-pepper-made-with-real...

[jdougan]

US people who have expressed opinions on the matter near me claim to like the taste of Coca Cola from other countries better. Specifically Mexican Coke, though I've heard similar sentiments with Canadian Coke.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Coke

[bluGill]

Corn syrup isn't about corn subsidies, it is about sugar. Sugar has large tariffs which makes core syrup cheaper in the US.