“That commitment continues today as companies build on these longstanding efforts to provide consumers with even more accessible, science-based information,” he continues. “SmartLabel is an industry-created digital disclosure tool that gives consumers instant access to detailed product information, from ingredients and allergen information to certifications and recycling guidance, simply by scanning a QR code on a package.”

Citing Nielsen data through June 2026, Banerjee notes that products featuring SmartLabel are seen in one in five U.S. grocery shopping carts, while more than 1,000 brands already are using the platform to communicate directly with consumers in real time.

Additionally, the SmartLabel has evolved to go beyond ingredient information.

“SmartLabel now offers everything from ingredient definitions and allergen information to recall notifications, sustainability content and ZIP code-specific recycling guidance,” Banerjee explains. “It has also become an important tool for regulatory compliance and eCommerce, serving as a single source of product information across brand and retailer websites. Additionally, SmartLabel offers brands the opportunity to tell their story and share promotions, seasonal content, advisories and safe handling instructions, country of origin, third-party certifications, sustainability information and more.”

Banerjee adds that SmartLabel allows packaging to support long-term needs.

“Brands see SmartLabel as a way to future-proof their packaging while giving consumers access to more information than can fit on a physical label,” he says. “They appreciate that they don’t need to update their packaging as often since changes can be made to the SmartLabel page instantly.

“Brands are also focused on the transition that is underway from traditional barcodes to QR codes by 2027,” Banerjee continues. “That shift means a single code can route a consumer to a SmartLabel product page while simultaneously processing pricing at checkout.”

Banerjee highlights that even with all these advancements, the SmartLabel platform is continuing to evolve to support manufacturers and consumers’ needs.

“The program is focused on meeting consumers where they are — and where they're going,” Banerjee says. “Looking ahead, SmartLabel is building the data infrastructure to power AI personal shopping assistants, which CBA’s report found surged from 30 to 59% adoption among grocery shoppers in under two years. The goal is for SmartLabel to be the trusted source — whether a consumer is scanning a label in the aisle or asking an AI agent to complete their grocery list.

“The platform will also support more dynamic content, and may expand to include other CPG categories like alcohol and small durable goods, provide detailed traceability information and continue to conform to state and federal digital disclosure regulations,” he continues. “These enhancements will ensure SmartLabel continues to evolve alongside changing technology and consumer expectations, expanding its reach and making transparency more accessible than ever.”

Labels within the beverage space also are receiving support from GoodtoKnowFacts.org, a comprehensive database developed by American Beverage that provides factual, non-industry information about more than 140 beverage ingredients.

In June, American Beverage announced that America’s leading beverage companies, including The Coca-Cola Co., Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo, are expanding a shared digital ingredient transparency infrastructure nationwide, designed to empower consumers with easy-to-understand information about the ingredients in their drinks so they can make the decisions that are right for them.

“Consumers want greater transparency and deserve to have confidence in the safety of their foods and beverages,” said American Beverage President and CEO Kevin Keane in a statement. “Transparency means more than simply listing ingredients ― it means providing relevant context that helps people understand where specific ingredients are used, what function they serve and how regulators in different countries view them. By integrating Good to Know into QR codes, we’re making it easier than ever for consumers to have clear and reliable information right at their fingertips.”

Good to Know is powered exclusively by trusted sources, American Beverage says. It is a compilation of publicly available safety from global food safety agencies. The site contains no industry research, no industry positions and no industry recommendations — only the published findings of the world’s leading independent food safety authorities, it adds. By scanning, users will be able to directly access complete ingredient safety assessments from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and Health Canada in one place, with assessments from the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives where needed.

With these tools at their disposal, beverage manufacturers are keeping consumers in the know.