Shoppers will soon be able to scan select soda packages for expanded details about what is inside.
The American Beverage Association announced Tuesday that leading beverage makers it represents — including The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo — will add QR codes to packaging that direct consumers to a trade group-created website with more information about drink ingredients.
“Consumers want greater transparency and deserve to have confidence in the safety of their foods and beverages,” American Beverage CEO Kevin Keane said in a statement.
The website, called “Good to Know,” includes information on more than 140 ingredients used across various beverages. Entries offer definitions, note the types of products where the ingredients may appear and identify where they are authorized for use around the world.
Some ingredients on the list may be recognizable to many consumers, while others — including Lion’s Mane and L-Carnitine — may be less familiar. The site does not provide brand-by-brand ingredient lists, meaning customers will still need to check the label on a specific can or bottle to see exactly what it contains.
Other companies taking part in the QR code effort include Celsius, Monster Energy, Polar Beverages and Red Bull, according to NBC News.
QR codes are not new to the soda aisle. Coca-Cola, for example, has previously used them as part of marketing and promotional campaigns.
The American Beverage Association said the information provided through the “Good to Know” platform is consistent with guidance from global food safety authorities. The site also gives consumers access to safety assessments from agencies including the Food and Drug Administration, the European Food Safety Authority and Health Canada.
The initiative comes as Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. moves to curb sweetened drinks as part of his Make America Healthy Again effort.
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Earlier this year, the Trump administration asked the public to report hospitals and nursing homes that serve sugary drinks and meals that don’t meet the Department of Agriculture’s dietary guidelines.
Kennedy also recently challenged Starbucks and Dunkin’ over the amount of sugar they add to their beverages, sparking backlash from politicians and coffee drinkers.
Alain Sherter
