Filipus’ original clip has since been removed, but not before it was shared by other social media users. YouTube, Instagram, TikTok And SnackVideowhich generated millions of additional views.
Similar videos making the same false claim in English also appeared on TikTok here And here.
The influencer uploaded a clarification on TikTok And Instagram on July 25, 2024, stating that there was no such regulation in Indonesia for the colors of bottled water caps and that the information was “not accurate.”
However, social media users left comments on the posts showing that they believed his claims.
“Where can I buy the purple one?” asked one.
Another said, “And the one with the yellow caps?”
‘Not true’
Eka Rosmalasari, spokeswoman for the Indonesian Food and Drug Administration, told AFP that “there is no connection” between the colour of bottled water caps and their contents.
The agency also debunked the claims on its official website. Instagram page on July 31, 2024 (archived link).
“That information is not true,” the message said. “The color and design of the packaging, including the bottle cap, is a design of the company.”
The chairman of the Indonesian Association of Bottled Water Companies, Rachmat Hidayat, also rejected the claim.
“There is no regulation regarding bottled water packaging and labels in Indonesia or the rest of the world that regulates the color of bottled water caps, as stated in the video,” he told AFP on September 12.
The US Food and Drug Administration regulates how bottled water products can be labeled based on their sources, classifying products as artesian well water, mineral water, spring water, or well water, but not identifying them by the color of bottle caps (archived link).
AFP checked several brands of bottled water sold in Indonesia and found that the colours of the caps do not match the claims.
For example the Cleo brand — which has orange caps on all its products — is unflavored (archived link).
Another brand, Ron88states that it uses water from natural sources in West Java, not tap water (archived link).
