People across the US have been finding desperate messages pleading for help under the caps of their SoBe beverages, BuzzFeed News reports.

The message reads, “HELP ME TRAPPED IN SOBE FACTORY.” Concerned customers have been posting images of the caps to SoBe’s Facebook page.

But it turns out that there’s no reason for concern. SoBe printed the messages on its caps, thinking the call for help would give customers “a little smile or pause for thought.”

The beverage brand, which is owned by Pepsi, apologised for the messages in a statement posted to its Facebook page.

“Hi there, we’re sorry that our cap slogan caused you concern, that was certainly not our intention,” the company wrote. “These sayings are intended to give our consumers a little smile or pause for thought, not offence, while they enjoy their favourite SoBe beverage.”

The brand said it’s planning to remove the warnings, but it might take a while.

“We are planning on removing this cap slogan from our current rotation, however, it will take a while for existing stock to run through the market,” the company said.

There have been similar cases in the past where oppressed factory workers have sought help by hiding messages on manufactured goods.

For example, last year a chilling letter from a Chinese factory worker was found in a box of Halloween decorations from Kmart.

The New York Times later identified the man who wrote the letter. He told the Times that he was imprisoned in a labour camp where “inmates toiled seven days a week, their 15-hour days haunted by sadistic guards.”

BuzzFeed also points out that there are cases of factory abuses in the US, as well.

Some employees in the manufacturing industry in the US work 12-hour days, seven days a week, according to the Trafficking Resource Center.

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