Seven-Up Bottling Company has faced criticism from Nigerian consumers after introducing bright yellow caps on plastic bottles of Pepsi, Mirinda, 7UP, Teem and Supa Komando without what customers described as adequate advance communication about the packaging change.

The new caps have raised questions about the authenticity of the drinks, with some consumers saying they initially suspected the products might be counterfeit because the colours differed from the packaging they were familiar with.

The concerns gained attention on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, after a LinkedIn user, Okafor Gambo, shared a photograph of a Pepsi bottle with a yellow cap and asked the company to confirm whether the change was official.

“Hello, Seven Up Bottling Company, PepsiCo. I found this on the streets, and it’s been sold out publicly,” Gambo wrote.

He questioned why consumers had not been informed before the new packaging appeared in shops and warned people to be cautious until the company clarified the change.

Responding to the post on Wednesday, the company said the yellow caps were part of a new initiative covering its plastic-bottled beverages, including Pepsi, Mirinda, 7UP, Teem and Supa Komando.

Seven-Up Bottling Company assured consumers that the products had not changed in taste or contents, describing the new caps as a fresh visual detail ahead of a wider announcement.

“Thank you for looking out for us! The yellow covers you’re seeing across our plastic bottle portfolio, including Pepsi, Mirinda, 7UP, Teem and Supa Komando, are part of a major new exciting initiative,” the company said.

“Rest assured, it’s the exact same refreshingly great-tasting product inside, just with a vibrant new detail. Full details will be revealed very soon. Stay tuned!”

The explanation, however, did not prevent criticism from some consumers, who argued that the company should have informed the public before introducing the new packaging into the market.

Gambo welcomed the response but said the clarification should have been communicated earlier. He also stated in a subsequent comment that he had contacted the company privately without receiving a response before making his public post.

Another user, Nnamdi Gabriel, questioned why the company waited until consumers raised concerns before explaining the change, arguing that the delay reflected poorly on its communication strategy.

Margaret Ejiro-Edoja also urged the company to give consumers advance notice whenever it makes changes to its products, noting that packaging plays an important role in purchasing decisions and customer confidence.

She warned that unexplained changes could create confusion in a market where counterfeit goods remain a concern.

Okechukwu Nwabuko similarly argued that manufacturers should keep consumers informed about packaging changes to help them distinguish legitimate products from potentially fake alternatives.

The uncertainty reportedly affected purchasing decisions. One commenter, Raphael Echiye, said he and four other people had declined to buy Pepsi on a particular day because they were unsure whether the yellow-capped bottles were genuine.

On Wednesday, Seven-Up Bottling Company also published a statement on its LinkedIn page explaining that the new caps were intended to create a fresh way of engaging with customers.

“The products you know and love, remain the same, with the same taste and refreshment,” the company said.

It added that the initiative was designed to introduce new ways of engaging and surprising consumers, while promising to share more details later.

The issue also generated questions on Pepsi Nigeria’s social media platforms. On October 9, an X user, Adeleke Ifeoluwa, posted a photograph of a yellow-capped Pepsi bottle and asked the company to confirm whether the packaging was authentic.

Pepsi Nigeria responded that the yellow-capped bottles contained the same product consumers were familiar with and encouraged customers to watch for further announcements.

On Facebook, Godfrey Daniel recounted an experience in which someone asked him to return four packs of Pepsi because of the unfamiliar cap colour, despite his observation that the bottle carried the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) logo.

Another user, Prince Adeniti, said he initially suspected that a Pepsi bottle with a yellow cap was fake.

The reactions highlight the importance of clear communication when consumer brands change familiar packaging. While Seven-Up Bottling Company has said the yellow caps are part of an official initiative and that the drinks remain unchanged, the initial uncertainty shows how unexplained visual changes can affect customer confidence.

For consumers, the company’s clarification indicates that the yellow cap alone is not evidence that a bottle is counterfeit. Anyone uncertain about a product’s authenticity should seek confirmation through the manufacturer’s official channels and check the packaging for other signs of tampering or irregularity.