No HIV in Pepsi? Now THAT'S a Relief

How reassuring to be treated with the following news:

An SMS has been circulating that Pepsi products are contaminated with HIV but Permanis Sandilands Sdn Bhd has clarified that this is a hoax. Its marketing vice-president Hemalatha Ragavan said there was no truth to it. She urged people not to believe such claims.

I have a couple of thoughts about this breaking story.

First, we all know that texting -- without other confirmation -- is now the preferred current medium for obtaining important health information. And you can see how the text reads like the work of a highly-respected public health official:

for d next few days, do not drink any product from pepsi company like pepsi, tropicana juice, slice, 7up, coca cola, etc,,as a worker from the company has added his blood contaminated with HIV. watch NDtv ... please 4ward this 2 every 1 u care about ... ok. Please note seriously

Second, the company issuing the denial -- "Permanis Sandilands Sdn Bhd" -- should think up a new slogan. "Come on board, it's time to be COOL, have FUN and DARE FOR MORE!" is not not going to cut it among hip Malaysians.