This tidbit from a mailbag post on a political site about cane sugar vs. high fructose corn syrup is exactly the kind of insider knowledge I like learning about:

Regarding Coca-Cola and whether HFCS is the same as cane sugar, I have the unique perspective of having been a Systems Analyst in MIS Development for Coca-Cola USA in Atlanta from 1982 to 1988. I was on the software development team that oversaw all systems in manufacturing (i.e., syrup manufacturing), transportation of syrup, and inventory control. I know that HFCS and cane sugar have the very same chemical formula.

Contrary to what many believe, I also know that Coca-Cola USA started using HFCS instead of cane sugar in Coca-Cola in 1983. It had nothing to do with the development and introduction of what is known as New Coke. While a miniscule number of employees know what's in Ingredient 7X, which makes Coca-Cola into... well, Coca-Cola, I do know of one ingredient. When New Coke (its "ingredient" was known as 7X-100, for the 1986 100th anniversary of the company) was introduced in April 1985, my development team saw a marked decrease in the import of vanilla from Madagascar. About ten weeks later, just before "Coke Classic" was introduced (i.e., the original product was "reintroduced") we saw increases in inventory of vanilla. That may have been one difference between 7X (classic) and 7X-100 (new) but it had nothing to do with the use of HFCS as the sweetener.