79% of Gen Z Check Ingredients | So Why Do Most Soda Labels Still Feel Unreadable?

Between 2024 and 2025, awareness of ultra-processed foods jumped by 12%, with 44% of people now familiar with the term. That change is being driven largely by younger consumers who actively seek out information and question what they’re consuming.

For Gen Z, this shift is even more pronounced. While about 65% of consumers overall say ingredient labels matter, that number climbs to 79% for Gen Z. That means nearly 4 out of 5 are actively checking what’s inside before taking a sip.

What’s Actually in Traditional Soda Labels?

Traditional soda has been around for decades, and with that comes formulas built on stabilizers, preservatives, acids, and flavoring systems designed for consistency and shelf life.

What’s changing now is how people react to those ingredient lists. More and more consumers are flipping cans around and realizing they don’t recognize what they’re reading. That moment of confusion is driving curiosity. And curiosity leads to change.

10 Common Soda Ingredients That Sound Confusing (And What They Are)

• Sodium Benzoate: A preservative used to prevent the growth of bacteria and extend shelf life.

• Potassium Sorbate: A preservative that helps stop products from spoiling.

• Aspartame: A low-calorie artificial sweetener commonly used in diet drinks.

• Acesulfame Potassium: A high-intensity sweetener often used alongside other sweeteners.

• Caramel Color: A coloring agent made by heating sugars to give drinks a darker appearance.

• Phosphoric Acid: An acid that adds tanginess and balances sweetness.

• Citric Acid: A compound used to create a sour or acidic taste.

• Natural Flavors: A broad term for flavor compounds derived from natural sources but processed before use.

• Artificial Flavors: Lab-created compounds designed to replicate specific tastes.

• Gum Arabic: A stabilizer derived from tree sap that helps keep ingredients evenly mixed.

So What Are People Reaching For Instead?

Consumers aren’t just avoiding certain ingredients. They’re actively choosing products that feel more transparent and easier to understand. In fact, Gen Z is already showing clear preferences:

• 46% look for products labeled “natural”
• 34% prioritize clean ingredients
• 28% seek organic options

Millennials are right there too, making up 52% of organic buyers, often weighing cost, nutrition, and the presence of artificial additives when making decisions. This isn’t a niche movement anymore. It’s becoming the new normal.

Real Ingredient Drinks Are Taking Over

Real Fruit Sodas

This is where things start to feel familiar again. Real fruit sodas are built from ingredients you actually recognize like fruit, botanicals, and simple sweeteners.

That’s where Say It Ain’t Soda fits in. Instead of relying on flavourings, ingredients are steeped to extract real flavour. It’s not about recreating taste. It’s about using the real thing.

Probiotic Sodas

Probiotic sodas are gaining traction as drinks that feel more intentional, often featuring live cultures and a new approach to everyday sipping.

Tea-Based Beverages

Tea-based drinks are brewed, not built. Whether sparkling or still, they rely on real leaves and herbs to create layered flavour.

Kombucha

Kombucha brings something different to the table. Fermented, slightly tangy, and unapologetically unique, it stands on its own and that’s exactly the appeal.

Why This Shift Is Happening Now

A big part of this movement is being shaped online. About 87% of Gen Z and Millennial TikTok users say they get dietary or health information from the platform. And roughly 75% of people aged 16 to 34 say content around clean eating feels aspirational.

That influence is turning into real purchasing behavior. Nearly 50% of Gen Z say they are willing to spend more on products that feel healthier or free from additives. Millennials show a similar trend, with 32% willing to pay more for natural or sustainably sourced ingredients.

It’s Not About Cutting Things Out, It’s About Choosing Better

At the end of the day, this shift isn’t about removing everything people used to enjoy. It’s about upgrading it.

People still want something refreshing. Something flavorful. Something worth reaching for. The difference is that now, they want to understand it too. And when the ingredients make sense, the choice becomes easy.

References

87% Social Media Influence (MyFitnessPal Survey) MyFitnessPal. (2024, April 11). Concerning new statistics highlight inaccurate nutrition trends on TikTok. PR Newswire. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/concerning-new-statistics-highlight-inaccurate-nutrition-trends-on-tiktok-302114407.html

75% Aspirational Healthy Eating (Mintel Report) Mintel. (2024). Attitudes towards healthy eating - UK - 2024. https://store.mintel.com/report/uk-attitudes-towards-healthy-eating-market-report-2024

50% Gen Z Willingness to Pay (Chen et al. Study) Chen, J., Xu, A., Tang, D., & Zheng, M. (2024). Divergence and convergence: A cross-generational study on local food choices. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 16, Article 101188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2024.101188

32% Millennial Willingness to Pay (Nielsen/Cargill Report) NielsenIQ. (n.d.). Consumer sustainability preferences (as cited in Cargill, Millennial eating trends). https://www.cargill.com/doc/1432138858223/millenial-eating-trends.pdf