Syringes were found in cans of Pepsi in 1993
| Syringes were found in cans of Pepsi in 1993 | |
|---|---|
| FALSE | |
| "Hypodermic needles and syringes were being found inside sealed cans of Diet Pepsi across the United States." | |
| Domain | Consumer Products & Everyday Life |
| Tactic | Fabrication Fraud or Scam |
| Era | Historical |
| First seen | June 1993 |
| Origin | A report by a couple in Tacoma, Washington, in June 1993, followed by a wave of copycat reports nationwide |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-29 |
| Further reading: books on Consumer Products & Everyday Life | |
In June 1993, a report of a syringe found in a can of Diet Pepsi in Washington state set off a nationwide product-tampering scare. Within days, dozens of similar reports came in from across the United States. Investigators found that tampering inside sealed cans on high-speed bottling lines was virtually impossible. The reports were hoaxes, and dozens of people were charged with making false claims.
The claim
News reports suggested a widespread tampering plot.
What the evidence shows
- Manufacturing. Cans are filled and sealed in a fraction of a second; Pepsi showed reporters footage of its lines.
- Caught on camera. A store security video showed a woman in Colorado inserting a syringe into a can.
- FDA findings. FDA Commissioner David Kessler said there was no evidence of tampering at the plants, and the agency described the reports as a copycat phenomenon.
Why it matters
Copycat hoaxes spread with media coverage. Pepsi's rapid transparency is still cited as a model response.
See also
Sources
- The New York Times, coverage of the Pepsi syringe reports, June 1993.
- US Food and Drug Administration, statements by Commissioner David A. Kessler, June 1993.