PepsiCo and gut health: A summary
- PepsiCo is going into functional drinks with its prebiotic soda
- The soda contains five grams of sugar and three grams of prebiotic fibre
- Prebiotics act independently of sugar, so a soda’s sugar content won’t affect their functionality
- Prebiotics can sometimes add sweetness to a drink
- The functional drinks market is thriving, with a CAGR of 8.9% between 2025 and 2030
PepsiCo is venturing into the functional drinks space. Its recently announced prebiotic cola is PepsiCo’s entry into the currently flourishing market, which has a predicted CAGR of 8.9% from 2025 to 2030, according to Grand View Research.
PepsiCo introduced the drink to tap into the current drive for health and functionality among consumers.
Sugar and prebiotics act separately
The drink contains only five grams of sugar, along with three grams of prebiotic fibre.
Glenn Gibson, researcher from the University of Reading who coined the term prebiotic, explains that no matter the level of sugar in the drink, the prebiotic would act separately.
“Prebiotics are carbohydrates but not sugar (sucrose). So, they have different effects and act independently. Sugars are absorbed in the upper gut whilst prebiotics like FOS are not and instead direct their activities towards the beneficial microbiota in the colon. This all assumes that the prebiotic is authentic and proven (in vivo) to be so.”
Some prebiotics can affect taste, Gibson explains, although it depends on which prebiotic is used.
Prebiotics like FOS (aka inulin) or GOS do have a slightly sweet taste, although not as sweet as sugar.
The rise of functional drinks
Gut health is not the only thing that consumers want from functional drinks.
From CBD drinks to those enhanced with vitamins and herbs, the category has seen immense popularity.
The vast popularity of matcha in particular is partially driven by its functional benefits, which include boosting metabolism, supporting skin health, and enhancing sleep.
Other trends, such as rapid hydration and “post night out” drinks, which help to combat hangovers, are also expected to grow significantly.
