Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Red Bull and Others Are Adding QR Codes to Packaging in US; Here's Why
Major beverage brands, including Pepsi and Red Bull, are adding QR codes linking to the 'Good to Know' site for ingredient transparency, joining federal health discussions. Meanwhile, Steak 'n Shake uses QR codes to unlock self-serve soda fountains, limiting servings to 40 ounces. Participating companies began rolling out the codes earlier this year, with full portfolio integration targeted for completion by the end of 2027.
Major beverage companies, including the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Keurig Dr Pepper, Red Bull, Monster Energy, Celsius, and Polar Beverages, are quietly integrating QR codes onto their packaging, including cans and bottles, to explain their ingredients. Spearheaded by the American Beverage Association, this nationwide rollout gives shoppers direct digital access to detailed, science-backed background information regarding the ingredients inside their drinks.
Scanning for Ingredient Insights
When scanned with a smartphone, the new packaging codes direct consumers to an online platform called Good to Know. The database provides transparent details on more than 140 common and lesser-known beverage ingredients, outlining what each substance is, its purpose, the types of drinks containing it, and safety evaluations from regulatory bodies worldwide. What Are the New US Dietary Guidelines for 2025-2030? List of Food Items Included in the New Pyramid Diet.
Operating independently from mandatory Nutrition Facts labels, the initiative aims to offer deeper context for components ranging from regular additives like caffeine and citric acid to niche items such as L-Carnitine and Lion’s Mane. Users can also review safety assessments published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Health Canada, and the European Food Safety Authority.
“Consumers want greater transparency and deserve to have confidence in the safety of their foods and beverages,” American Beverage Association President and CEO Kevin Keane said. Participating companies began rolling out the codes earlier this year, with full portfolio integration targeted for completion by the end of 2027.
Focus on Dietary Transparency and Public Policy
The transparent packaging push arrives as consumers increasingly scrutinise food and beverage ingredients. The shift also coincides with wider federal discussions on public health and diet. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has emphasised ingredient clarity and reducing sugary drink intake under the "Make America Healthy Again" initiative. The administration previously encouraged the public to report care facilities serving sugary drinks or meals failing to meet federal dietary guidelines, alongside publicly questioning corporate sugar levels in commercial beverages. US Pizza Recall Alert: Frozen Meat Pizzas Distributed to Grocery Stores Including Walmart Recalled Due to Soy Allergy Risk.
Automated Controls at Self-Serve Fountains
In a separate application of packaging technology, QR codes have also appeared elsewhere in the beverage sector. Customers at restaurant chain Steak ‘n Shake recently encountered codes attached to self-serve soda fountains. Online videos show the automated machines remaining locked until patrons scan the displayed code to authorise a pour. Explaining the operational decision on X, the company stated, “We have a system that limits each regular beverage to a very generous 40-ounce serving (excluding ice) so we can keep prices affordable for our loyal guests and maintain self-service refills.” “Many of our competitors have gotten rid of self-serve soda fountains and free refills. Not us. You are welcome!” the company added.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 29, 2026 03:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
