A False Claim Says Coca-Cola Releases Mini Bottles for Short People
Coca-Cola is the world’s leading drink manufacturer. A social media claim targeting the company said the global corporation had started producing small bottles of its drink for short people around the world. The claim has been widely shared and has received a lot of engagement from Facebook users. However, upon investigation, we found that the […]
Coca-Cola is the world’s leading drink manufacturer. A social media claim targeting the company said the global corporation had started producing small bottles of its drink for short people around the world. The claim has been widely shared and has received a lot of engagement from Facebook users. However, upon investigation, we found that the claim was false.
SOCIAL MEDIA CLAIM
A social media claim said that the world’s leading carbonated soft drink manufacturer Coca-Cola released very small bottles of its drink for short people.
The announcement has been shared over 300 times and has received a variety of comments and reactions from Khmer-speaking Facebook users.
Below is the snapshot from a social media post on July 03, 2024, which reads, “Finally, Coke for short people done come out.”
We found the same information on other Facebook pages, which had received a lot of comments and reactions from social media users.
Below is the screenshot from a social media post on July 09, 2024, which reads, “Coca-Cola has started producing mini Cola for all the short people. Mention that midget you know so they can see this good news.”
Below is the screenshot from the Facebook caption published on July 1, 2024: "Coca-Cola has unveiled a bottle for short people. Congratulations.” This post got numerous comments and reactions from social media users.
The same claim can be found on the social media platform published and widely circulated. It can be seen here in Link 1 (archived), Link 2 (archived), Link 3 (archived), Link 4 (archived), Link 5 (archived), and many other links.
The claim has been widely circulated on X (Twitter) social media platforms too. Many social media users expressed their reactions and comments to the post, apparently believing it is true.
As the claim is viral on social media platforms, it can be seen here in link 1, link 2, link 3, link 4, and link 5.
FACT CHECK
Fact Crescendo Cambodia began debunking the above claim by running a Google Reverse Image Search and seeking clarification from the Coca-Cola company and its business partners in the region. Then, we discovered the facts below.
By running the Google Reverse Image Search, we found the original photo which has been widely published by websites and international media outlets.
The image published on Flickr – the images and videos hosting services headquartered in the United States – shows a small bottle of Coca-Cola drink with the label reading “FIFA World Cup Special Edition Pack” which was to mark and celebrate the World Cup tournament hosted in Germany in 2006.
Below is the snapshot of the images that were uploaded onto the photography hosting platform on April 27, 2006. The original image has no description as the social media claim above.
Flickr | Archived Link
By running the Google Reverse Image Search, we also found the images of a four-mini bottle set of Coca-Cola drinks which is put on sale on eBay online retailer in the United Kingdom (UK).
The images clearly show the pack was a special edition that was released by the world’s leading coke manufacturer nearly 20 years ago to celebrate the world football tournament held in Germany in 2006.
After seeing the original images of the Coca-Cola package published by well-known websites, we found out that part of the image of a mini bottle of the drink which was virally circulated on social media was edited.
The different spots on the drink label can be marked in the compared image below and we found no “STRICTLY FOR SHORT PEOPLE” on the drink pack. Instead, the drink bottle was labeled “FIFA WORLD CUP SPECIAL EDITION PACK.”
Fact Crescendo reached out to Coca-Cola company for clarification. In an email response, Anh Than – Coca-Cola company’s Communication Manager for Vietnam and Cambodia – denied the viral claim and image.
Mr. Anh Than added the company's drink is bottled and canned in different sizes of bottles, cans, glasses, and special packages for seasonal and promotional campaigns in various countries and regions.
Being asked whether the mini bottle pack released for the FIFA 2006 World Cup tournament continues these days, Anh Than could not confirm because the package was promoted by the company’s business partnership in Europe nearly 20 years ago.
A German media report said that the ball bottle of Coca-Cola drinks was just a limited edition only shortly available for the world football tournament in some countries in Europe and would be a collector’s item.
Coca-Cola is the world’s leading drink manufacturer and has a long history of sponsorship for the world football tournament since the 1970s. Special edition packages and special versions of Coca-Cola drinks can be seen in every FIFA World Cup tournament.
CONCLUSION
Fact Crescendo Cambodia found out the claim described above is false. The image of a mini bottle of Coca-Cola drink was digitally edited. The original image depicts the mini bottle of Coca-Cola drink with the label printed “FIFA World Cup Special Edition Pack” which was to celebrate the world football tournament held in Germany in 2006. Also, we found the company has no specific packages of its drinks targeting a group of short people group. This is a discrimination which is not aligned with the company’s policy and social responsibility.
Title:A False Claim Says Coca-Cola Releases Mini Bottles for Short People
Fact Check By: Fact Crescendo TeamResult: False
