Coca-Cola, Pepsi could be forced to add QR codes showing ingredients details

The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo could soon face new international rules requiring them to display detailed ingredient safety information through QR codes on product packaging.

The proposal is part of a growing global push for stricter food labelling standards, aimed at increasing transparency around ultra-processed foods, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and other additives commonly found in packaged beverages.

What the proposal means

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If adopted, the new rules would require soft drink manufacturers to:

• Add QR codes directly onto cans and bottles


• Link consumers to detailed ingredient breakdowns


• Provide clearer explanations of additives and sweeteners


• Improve access to nutritional and safety-related data

Instead of relying only on small printed labels, consumers would be able to scan a code using their phone and access expanded digital information about what they are drinking.

Shoppers may soon be able to scan a drink and instantly see:

• Sugar levels and calorie content


• Types of preservatives and colourings used


• Caffeine content


• Safety classifications and health guidance

This could be especially important as public health experts in Kenya and globally raise concerns about rising sugar intake and lifestyle-related diseases.

Food safety authorities and health advocates argue that current packaging does not give consumers enough clarity, especially regarding Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, food colourants and preservatives, high sugar levels in soft drinks, as well as caffeine content in energy and soda drinks

The QR code system is seen as a way to modernise food labelling without overcrowding packaging, while giving consumers optional deeper access to information.

Despite growing support for greater transparency, beverage companies have cautioned that the proposal could raise production costs and complicate international trade due to differing national regulations.

Industry representatives also warn that detailed scientific data may be misunderstood by consumers, while emphasising that ingredients used in their products already undergo regulatory review and comply with existing food safety requirements.

At the moment, the proposal would not automatically apply worldwide. Food labelling laws are set by individual countries or regions, meaning adoption would likely vary, but the most likely early adopters:

• European Union, which has strict food transparency rules


• United States, through FDA-related policy updates


• Parts of Asia-Pacific with strong digital regulation systems

The rules would likely roll out region by region, not globally at once, because different QR code standards may emerge depending on the country, and companies may face multiple versions of packaging depending on the market.

For Kenya, adoption would depend on decisions by local regulators such as the Ministry of Health and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), potentially aligning with international trade partners over time.

For now, the proposal remains under discussion, but it signals a major shift in how consumers may interact with packaged food and beverages in the near future.