Coke, Pepsi and Keurig Dr Pepper Launch a Shared QR-Code Ingredient System
Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Keurig Dr Pepper launched a shared QR-code system covering 140+ beverage ingredients, with near-full portfolio coverage pledged by end of 2027.
TL;DR — Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Keurig Dr Pepper rolled out a shared QR-code "Good to Know" system giving factual information on 140-plus beverage ingredients, pledging near-full portfolio coverage by the end of 2027 — voluntary transparency amid pressure for tougher labeling.
The companies behind most of America’s soft drinks just agreed on one way to tell you what’s inside. On June 22, 2026, they launched a shared ingredient-transparency system.
The rollout
The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo and Keurig Dr Pepper — coordinated through trade group American Beverage — launched a shared "Good to Know" database providing factual, non-industry information on more than 140 beverage ingredients, accessible via product QR codes. Companies began integrating it in Q1 2026 and committed to full or near-full coverage across their portfolios by the end of 2027. The push was accelerated by federal pressure for greater ingredient transparency.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Ingredients covered | 140+ |
| Participants | Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Keurig Dr Pepper (+ members) |
| Access | Product QR codes → shared database |
| Full-coverage target | End of 2027 |
What they said
"Consumers want greater transparency and deserve to have confidence in the safety of their foods and beverages." — Kevin Keane, President & CEO, American Beverage
Why it matters
- Self-regulation vs. mandates. A voluntary QR standard is the industry’s answer to calls for front-of-pack warning labels.
- Rare cooperation. Fierce rivals adopting one shared system is notable.
- A template for food. Scan-to-learn transparency could spread across packaged goods.
FAQ
What is the beverage industry’s "Good to Know" system?
A shared QR-code database, launched June 22, 2026 by Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Keurig Dr Pepper and other American Beverage members, that provides factual information on more than 140 beverage ingredients. Companies pledged near-full portfolio coverage by the end of 2027.
Why did beverage companies launch it now?
Amid growing pressure for tougher ingredient labeling, the industry opted for a voluntary, shared transparency standard — letting shoppers scan a QR code to learn what ingredients do — rather than wait for mandated front-of-pack warnings.
Sources
- American Beverage — shared ingredient-transparency rollout
- BeverageDaily — US beverage giants roll out QR codes
Image: Coca-Cola can by ZooFari — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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