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Don’t be surprised if your next Coke or Pepsi comes with something extra on the can.
The nation’s biggest beverage companies are quietly adding QR codes to their packaging, allowing shoppers to scan for more information about the ingredients in their drinks.
The effort, led by the American Beverage Association, includes brands from the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Keurig Dr Pepper, Red Bull, Monster Energy, Celsius and Polar Beverages.
Scanning the code takes consumers to a new website called Good to Know, which explains more than 140 ingredients commonly found in beverages.
Instead of listing ingredients on a label, the site explains what each ingredient is, why it’s used, what types of drinks contain it and how food safety agencies around the world evaluate it.
The new QR code system is separate from the Nutrition Facts label already required on beverage packaging and intends to give consumers additional background on ingredients they may not recognize.
“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.
Consumers can also view ingredient safety assessments from the Food and Drug Administration, the European Food Safety Authority and Health Canada.
The website includes information on common ingredients like caffeine and citric acid as well as lesser-known ingredients such as Lion’s Mane and L-Carnitine.
The rollout began earlier this year, with participating companies expected to have QR codes on most of their products by the end of 2027.
The initiative comes as more Americans pay closer attention to food ingredients and additives.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made ingredient transparency and reducing sugary drink consumption part of his Make America Healthy Again agenda.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration encouraged Americans to report hospitals and nursing homes serving sugary drinks or meals that do not meet federal dietary guidelines.
Kennedy has also criticized Starbucks and Dunkin’ over the amount of sugar in some of their drinks.
It’s also not the first time soda companies have used QR codes. Coca-Cola has previously added them to packaging for promotions and marketing campaigns.
The new codes aren’t the only ones tied to soft drinks.
Steak ‘n Shake customers recently spotted QR codes on the chain’s self-serve soda fountains.
Videos shared online show drink dispensers remaining locked until customers scan the code, after which the machines begin pouring.
“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,” the company said on X.
“Many of our competitors have gotten rid of self-serve soda fountains and free refills. Not us. You are welcome!”
