Approach

PepsiCo's Global Labeling Policy

PepsiCo complies with all relevant labeling laws and regulations in all markets in which our products are sold. As we work to provide consumers with a range of Positive Choices, we aim to have a consistent approach to nutritional labeling across the world, based on the following:

• On the side or back of our packages (BOP label), and taking account of local legislation, PepsiCo provides nutrition information per serving, per portion, and/or per 100 grams of energy (as Calories, kilocalories, or kilojoules), and on key nutrients— protein, carbohydrates, total sugars, total fat, saturated fat, and sodium.
• We also provide simplified nutrition information per portion on the front of our packaging (FOP).

Please see our Global Labeling Policy for more information.

Front-of-pack Labeling

Consumers, governments, and other stakeholders are increasingly recommending interpretative FOP labeling that helps provide consumers with nutrition information at a glance and enables quick purchasing and consumption decisions.

PepsiCo supports the recommendation by some of our key stakeholders for one globally consistent FOP label. However, local legislation requires a wide variety of FOP labels in different countries. These include labels calling out a positive nutritional profile and others using color-coded traffic light labeling and warning signs. The proliferation of labeling schemes makes it challenging for PepsiCo to use a single global FOP labelling system.

PepsiCo supports FOP labeling that:

• Is science-based;
• Reflects ongoing reformulations by companies and rewards those that offer a range of options including reduced added sugars, saturated fats and sodium;
• Discourages or does not add to a proliferation of labeling schemes around the world; and
• Helps consumers make informed choices.

Health and Nutrition Claims

PepsiCo uses nutrition and health claims on-pack and through other marketing channels to provide consumers with relevant nutrition or product information to enable informed choices.  If we make a health or nutrition claim, or when we add a nutrient for fortification purposes, we provide information in accordance with local regulations or guidelines, and where those do not exist we use, at a minimum, those set out by Codex (including Codex CAC/GL 23-1997 Guidelines for Use of Nutrition and Health Claims and CAC/GL 9-1987 General Principles for Addition of Essential Nutrients to Foods). Our internal guidance on fortification refers to the WHO/FAO Guidelines on food fortification with micronutrients (2006) where appropriate.

Substantiation of Health and Nutrition Claims

PepsiCo’s Global Standards for Health and Nutrient Claims ensure a global, consistent approach to substantiate claims in a systematic, comprehensive, and transparent manner. The standards require that claims are:

• Truthful and not misleading
• Verifiable, substantiated, and accurate
• Clear and specific
• Consistent with internal PepsiCo brand guardrails
• Compliant with local regulations

Claims may also need approval from a Regional PepsiCo Claims Council (PCC). PCCs are comprised of a cross functional team with representation from Legal, Regulatory Affairs, and Nutrition Sciences departments as well as others who may be required on an ad hoc basis. The first PCC was established in the U.S., and regional PCCs have since been set up in all of our operating divisions. We believe this process ensures that claims are properly substantiated regardless of whether local laws regarding health claims are in place.

Progress

PepsiCo is compliant with local nutrition labeling regulations in all markets where our products are sold. In terms of compliance with our internal policy:

• We include the nutrients required to be labeled under our global BOP labeling policy approximately 97% of the time.
• Compliance with our FOP labeling policy has been impacted by the emergence of new regulations in Mexico and Columbia that mandate octagonal FOP labels on products "high in calories," which prevent us from including other information on FOP. Per portion calorie information is still provided on back-of-pack. Excluding these markets, approximately 81% of products complied with our FOP labeling policy (compared to 67% if these markets are included).

In 2021, PepsiCo announced it would join Foundation Earth’s industry advisory board which is looking at the right methodology for environmental labeling. The project is aimed at assessing the ability of different labeling schemes to promote more sustainable buying choices for consumers, as well as driving environmental progress for food producers.

What's Next?

PepsiCo will continue to ensure our labels provide consumers with easy-to-understand information about the nutritional content of our products, and comply with nutrition labeling requirements wherever our products are sold. As we strive to reach our pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) goals, we are also exploring ways to empower consumers with transparent environmental labeling on our key products by 2030.