Coca-Cola is entering the "functional soda" wars. The company revealed its 2027 beverage innovation lineup to USA Today on October 5, headlined by "healthy" versions of Coke and Sprite: zero sugar with 6 grams of prebiotic fiber per can, launching in a limited test across parts of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania in late October.
The launch is not a standalone new brand but a prebiotic makeover of three existing ones: Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Sprite Zero Sugar, and Fresca. Each reformulated 12-ounce can carries 6 grams of prebiotic fiber, zero sugar, and just 15 calories, marketed as supporting digestive health. The company has not disclosed which fiber it uses.
The products are being previewed at the 2026 NACS Show in Las Vegas, October 7–9, with the regional test-and-learn pilot starting in late October. A company spokesperson said the test is designed to measure consumer interest.
"What people want from their beverages continues to evolve, from new flavors and experiences to added functionality," said Shakir Moin, President of Marketing, North America. "The breadth of our portfolio gives us an incredible opportunity to meet those changing needs."
Stacy Jackson, vice president of the Coca-Cola trademark, was more direct: "We're looking at taking our Coca-Cola Zero offerings into the prebiotic space... It is going to be a test. We are launching in the fall. We really want to see if consumers want this product offering from us."
Coca-Cola actually entered the category in 2025 with Simply Pop, a fruit-based sparkling drink with 6 grams of prebiotic fiber plus vitamin C and zinc. Rival PepsiCo agreed to buy Poppi for $1.95 billion — Poppi's retail sales surged 122% year over year — and launched its own Pepsi Prebiotic Cola with 3 grams of fiber. Euromonitor data puts prebiotic soda category sales at roughly $440 million in 2024, up from about $197 million in 2020.
Pricing has not been disclosed. Analysts read Coca-Cola's decision to give its two most iconic brands a prebiotic makeover — rather than inventing a new one — as a sign it intends to take on Poppi and Olipop head-on with brand firepower. Sales data from the three-state pilot will determine whether "healthy Coke" goes national next year.