ATLANTA — The makers of Coca-Cola and Pepsi products are rolling out QR codes on beverage packaging across the United States that will allow consumers to access detailed ingredient information through their smartphones, part of an industry-wide effort to increase transparency about the contents of food and drink products, company and industry officials said this week.
The initiative involves major beverage manufacturers, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Keurig Dr Pepper, which have begun placing QR codes on cans and bottles that direct consumers to an online database containing information about ingredients used in their products. The announcement was made on Monday by the American Beverage Association, an industry trade group representing non-alcoholic beverage companies.
According to the association, consumers who scan the codes will be directed to GoodtoKnowFacts.org, a platform that provides information on more than 140 beverage ingredients. The database includes safety assessments and regulatory information compiled from public sources, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Food Safety Authority and Health Canada.
“Consumers want greater transparency and deserve to have confidence in the safety of their foods and beverages,” American Beverage Association President and Chief Executive Kevin Keane said in a statement. “By integrating Good to Know into QR codes, we’re making it easier than ever for consumers to have clear and reliable information right at their fingertips.”
The beverage industry said companies began incorporating the QR-code system during the first quarter of 2026 and aim to achieve widespread adoption across product portfolios by the end of 2027. The rollout comes amid growing consumer interest in ingredient disclosure and greater access to information about food and beverage products.
The move does not replace existing ingredient labels required under federal regulations. Instead, the digital system is intended to provide additional information beyond what can be printed on product packaging, according to the industry group. The database includes explanations of ingredient functions, regulatory reviews and links to assessments by food-safety authorities.
Consumer advocates and regulators have previously examined the increasing use of QR codes in food labeling. Some observers have raised questions about whether consumers without smartphones or internet access can easily obtain the same information, while industry groups argue that digital tools provide more detailed and up-to-date disclosures than traditional labels alone.
PepsiCo has previously used QR-linked digital labeling systems through its SmartLabel platform, which provides ingredient and nutrition information for individual products. The broader industry initiative marks one of the largest coordinated efforts to expand ingredient transparency through digital packaging technology.
As of Tuesday, beverage manufacturers said the rollout was continuing nationwide. Companies involved in the program indicated that additional products would receive the QR codes over the coming months as packaging inventories are updated.
