Protests have been held around the world in support of Palestine since Israeli military forces conducted airstrikes and ground offensive attacks on the Gaza Strip. The Support and sympathy for Palestine is not only limited to Protests and Rallies but it can also observed on social media as well. Amid this, One such image is going viral on social media platforms showcasing the new product design created by Pepsi Co. in support of war-affected Palestine. Social media users are fervently sharing this image carrying the text which reads: “Pepsi has modified its product’s design to feature Palestinian Culture”.

Claim made through the viral image

A user named Emile shared an image depicting the new design of Pepsi with the viral claim, and wrote: “Even if you put a picture of Abu Ubaida on it, no”

Other users also shared this image

We found that several users shared this image on X and made similar claims.

Fact-Check

Has Pepsi modified its product’s design to feature Palestinian Culture? It would have undoubtedly made headlines on the TV, Newspaper, and Internet.

In our preliminary investigation, we didn’t find any news article related to this viral claim. Moreover, when we visited the official website of Pepsi Co. including all its handles on social media, we found that no such announcement has been made by Pepsi regarding its product design.

Additionally, a reverse-image search led us to Meta(Facebook) where we discovered the same image on an account named “Digital Alfaaz”. The image shared by this account also has its logo and website on it.

It suggests that the viral image is the digital creation of this account and it is not associated with any such reality.

Upon further investigation, we found a brief press release published by Pepsi Co. on its website, expressing its support to communities of Israel and Gaza in this war-intensifying situation.

“ We grieve together and extend our deepest condolences to those who have lost family members, friends, and close colleagues. Our continued focus is on the safety and well-being of our employees in the region. We have been and will continue to monitor the situation to determine how we can best aid and support all of those in need in Israel and Gaza. This work has already begun, including helping with immediate housing, food, childcare, mental health support, and other necessities as possible to those displaced or otherwise impacted” mentioned in the Press Release.

Subsequently, according to an article published by ARAB NEWS, whenever conflicts erupt in the Middle East, American consumer brands are often among the first targets of public anger.

Further, it was also mentioned: “Arabs have again launched a boycott of American franchises in the region to voice their solidarity with the Palestinians and to protest the perceived bias towards Israel”.

Conclusion

It is clear from DFRAC’s Fact-Check the viral image showing Pepsi’s new product design featuring Palestinian Culture is misleading as no such claim has been officially made by Pepsi Co. amid this ongoing conflict.