GS1 Digital Link for Food Products

The value chain has a big job: managing products with many SKUs, frequent formulation updates, regulatory pressure, and high recall responsibility. How can we store so much information in one place and make everyone happy? Attempting to meet the growing demands of stakeholders from every side, the information just keeps piling up.

Traditional one-dimensional barcodes were fantastic for over fifty years as they enabled POS systems to move with ease, and inventory, risk of theft, and more, could be streamlined into a few black lines. But now, as sustainability standards increase the need for more information and less packaging, adding a 2D barcode, or a barcode QR code, has become necessary. As we begin to see the two coexisting on packaging throughout the world, Sunrise 2027, a GS1 industry-led initiative, is shifting us into the GS1 QR code streamlining everything. Now we are able to put 1D and 2D barcode information into the same QR code, making it the most useful invention in the industry so far since the 1D barcode.

Benefits of GS1 Digital Links on Food Packaging

The benefits of a GS1 QR code work for large manufacturers as well as SMEs. Since dynamic QR codes are editable and allow companies to manage information at scale, they are perfect for any number of SKUs.

GS1 Digital Links are better for inventory management

Because traditional barcodes only held less information and they were static, meaning they couldn’t be edited, you couldn’t be flexible about information in the past. Nor was it as thorough as now. QR codes store up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters and up to 7,089 numeric-only characters, while 1D barcodes could store about 6-20 characters. This new technology enables inventory staff to mitigate some of the tasks from before.

2D barcodes enhance traceability

Whether it be circularity measures, recall information, logistics updates, fair working practices, etc., scanning a QR code at any time in the large-scale manufacturing process enables the next person to know more. As long as information is updated on the back end of the code, it can be added all the way through the value chain, increasing transparency every step of the way.

Smart packaging increases sustainability

The dilemma: more information + less packaging. Where do you put it so it can be broadcast at scale? A GS1 QR code.

Smart packaging enables you to share a lot of content in a small space, and in a convenient way. Most consumers will do what’s in front of them, and they don’t have time to look up your website. Sunrise 2027 inspires us to adjust not only to the needs and demands of the consumer, but to inch our way into smart packaging so that it also becomes second nature to brands as a regular protocol: sustainable packaging will be the norm.

QR code barcodes expand to customer engagement

From SMEs to large manufacturers, brand recognition and awareness are key. It’s easy to put your Instagram handle on the back of a bottle of juice, but it’s even better if the QR code makes it easier for them to click and follow from the content added to the code.

How to Create GS1 QR Codes for Food Packaging

Now that you’ve been made aware of Sunrise 2027 and the advantages for supply chains and consumers, we’ll show you how to create GS1 QR codes for food packaging, whether it be in bulk or at product-level.

Step 1: Go to Trueqrcode’s QR code generator and choose the barcode QR code generator option, which is GS1 compliant.

Step 2: Add your GTIN for a single code or choose the bulk creation option. Trueqrcode will provide the .csv sample for you to download and fill in. Then you will edit and upload your new .csv.

Step 3: Add your header, links, and socials for increased customer engagement.

Step 4: Customize your QR code design with branded, contrasted colors and upload a QR code logo in the center for brand recognition and awareness.

Step 5: Use your downloaded QR code in your food packaging design. Always do test scans with multiple devices before and after printing a test code on food packaging, (please print on one test package before printing thousands), to make sure it has the correct information, links, and that the food packaging has not obstructed the code by size, curves, shine, and other issues that are easy to avoid but may come up. Information can always be changed on the backend since it’s a dynamic QR code, but physical obstruction must be prevented. Moreover, it’s professional in front of the audience to get it right the first time.

Step 6: You can track how often the QR codes on food packaging are scanned in your analytics dashboard. They will tell you the number of scans, cities, times, and on what devices they were scanned. Depending on your goals, these analytics will help you in the long and short term.

Best Practices of GS1 QR Codes for Food Packaging

The GS1 Digital Link is perfect for updating the data used in a dynamic QR code, even if you’re managing millions of products in inventory. This enables brands to update product data at scale without reprinting codes. Dynamic QR codes also allow QR code tracking if it’s necessary for the creator of the code.

Resolver architecture, or redirect rules, can detect what kind of device is scanning a code and therefore provide different information based on whether it’s a customer’s smartphone or maybe another device from the supply chain or regulators. Some common resolvers would be GS1 global resolvers, brand-owned resolvers, or SaaS providers like EVRYTHNG/ALTRAC, Digimarc, or Kezzler.

Improve your digital recall workflow

A digital recall workflow powered by QR codes transforms recalls from a slow, manual process into a fast, precise, and fully traceable response. Instead of relying on phone calls, spreadsheets, and broad public notices, QR codes link each product or batch to real-time digital data, enabling instant product identification, end-to-end traceability, targeted notifications to the right partners and consumers, and automated verification and reporting. This reduces recall time from weeks to hours, limits the scope of affected products, protects consumers, and helps brands maintain regulatory compliance and trust during critical events.

Be consistent across markets and packaging cycles using GS1 QR codes

Consistency enhances consumer trust. When customers know what they are going to get, they are more loyal to a brand that does what they say and provides as much information as possible. It also makes it easier on brands to stay compliant since the GS1 Digital Link is already part of their normal procedures in-house. When trust and consistency are bred internally and extend to the outside, it is better in the long term. It also improves and standardizes your packaging system.

Protect your brand and customers with batch-level GS1 QR codes

When you batch generate QR codes, you can upload our .csv template with the necessary data to automatically create each code.

For most common food products, item-level QR codes aren’t necessary. They’re typically reserved for higher risk products like infant formula. The food industry normally uses product-level QR codes.

However, batch-level QR codes lie somewhere in the middle by adding a batch or lot number to the product. This extra level of detail is valuable in the event of a recall or contamination issue, allowing brands to quickly identify and trace other products from the same batch that may be affected.

Tips for Adding GS1 QR Codes on Food Packaging

Start with an Enterprise Rollout Plan

An Enterprise QR Code Rollout Plan gives your organization a clear, scalable path to implement QR codes across products, facilities, and supply chain partners without disrupting operations or risking compliance. It defines how QR codes will support traceability, digital recalls, and consumer transparency while aligning with GS1 standards and food safety regulations. This enables food companies to reduce implementation risk, ensure data consistency, and prepare for recall events, while future-proofing your packaging and labeling strategy, so QR codes work as a connected system.

Keep product data off the QR code and store it in a PIM/MDM or GS1 resolver

When the QR code scans the GTIN, your server looks up that GTIN in your PIM/MDM, and this returns full product data like: ingredients, nutrition, allergens, images, language-specific info, promotions, certificates, recall alerts, etc. Don’t embed all of that directly into the QR code; keep it clean and allow more space for other important information.

Add things directly to the code that include a human readable interpretation (HRI) such as:

GTIN: 09506000123452

Batch: ABC123

Use Before: 2025-05-01

QR codes on food packaging need to be convenient to scan

Not only will people not try scanning again and again if it doesn’t work, but it won’t work if the size of the code isn’t 10 mm × 10 mm (0.4” × 0.4”) for good scanners and at least 13–15 mm preferred for consumer mobile phones.

Also, keep a ≥ 6–8 mm quiet zone (white area) around the QR code.

Don’t print them on seams, folds, and curves. Sometimes, you can scan a QR code on a soda can at a certain size, but print a test one before mass distribution and see if it works.

Use contrasted colors that you can incorporate into your branded colors, or the code won’t scan with neutrals or similar hues.

Use a resolver instead of direct URLs embedded in your 2D barcode

A GS1 Digital Link resolver allows brands to:

update product data dynamically
redirect scans by geography
support multiple languages
enable recall warnings
track item-level authentication
change content after printing

This is crucial for food, where ingredients, allergens, or recall status may change.

Consider serialization with bulk QR code generation only if needed

You do not need item-level codes for general food.

Use serialization only for:

infant formula
high-risk foods
promotional campaigns
anti-counterfeit
track & trace programs

A product-level or batch-level QR code is enough for most food products.

Wrapping Up Food Packaging with GS1 QR Codes

GS1 QR codes on food packaging enable brands to streamline sharing data about the entire product lifecycle in one code.

Product information management allows brands to share things like descriptions, images, ingredients, marketing copy, social media information, promotional content, and more.
Master data management helps supply chains organize their GTINs, dimensions, weights, regulatory attributes, identifiers, etc.
Enterprise resource planning is covered by storing information in QR codes, such as inventory, cost, manufacturing, procurement, logistics, and finance.

Moving forward with your GS1 QR codes on food products will benefit you in the long term, and integrating them into your food packaging protocol in coherence with Sunrise 2027 is the best way to go. Request an Enterprise Rollout Plan with Trueqrcode and experience the benefits of adding 2D barcodes to regular packaging procedures.

FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers

What is the GS1 Digital Link?

A GS1 Digital Link is a standard that encodes existing GS1 identifiers (like the GTIN) into a web-addressable URL (a URI), which can then be embedded in a 2D barcode (e.g., a QR Code) or other carriers.

What kinds of information / use-cases does it support (for food / general products)?

The GS1 Digital Link can link to a lot of information like ingredients, nutrition, safety precautions, recall information, procurement and logistics information, and anything for multiple stakeholders to be able to benefit from, which enhances traceability and functionality.

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