Pro-Life Groups Call for Pepsi Boycott over Aborted Fetal Cell Lines

May 25, 2011

Contact: info@cogforlife.org  Phone:  (727) 483-9251

(Largo, FL) Scores of prolife groups are calling for a public boycott of food giant, PepsiCo due to their partnership with Senomyx, a biotech company using aborted fetal cells in the research and development of artificial flavor enhancers.

Pepsi is funding the research and development – and paying royalties to Senomyx which uses HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney cells) to produce flavor enhancers for Pepsi beverages.

Senomyx boasts they have over 800,000 unique flavors for foods.  The human tongue recognizes only 5 (salty, savory, sweet, sour and bitter).  But cells expressing certain proteins produce a chemical signal when flavors are introduced, which determines if it’s the proper flavor. The aborted fetal cells are not in the product itself.

“There are many options PepsiCo could be using instead of aborted fetal cells” noted Debi Vinnedge, President of Children of God for Life, the group spearheading the boycott.

The revelation—a potential public relations nightmare—motivated Campbell Soup to sever all relations with Senomyx.  However, PepsiCo continues their business relationship despite the abortion connection. They drew pubic ire earlier this year when they responded that “our collaboration with Senomyx is strictly limited to creating lower-calorie, great-tasting beverages for consumers.”

When pressed further, PepsiCo attempted to pacify angry consumers with a form letter response insinuating they had been accused of conducting aborted fetal tissue research.  Their duplicity again drew public outrage.

Bradley Mattes, executive director of Life Issues Institute, said, “While aborted fetal cells aren’t actually in the product itself, the close relationship is enough to repulse most consumers.  To our knowledge, this is the first time a food product has been publicly associated with abortion.”

The pro-life groups noted that additional companies collaborating with Senomyx will be targeted for boycott next.

Pro-life organizations are asking the public to boycott all Pepsi beverages and encourage consumers to contact Pepsi management requesting that they sever all ties with Senomyx. Consumers are also encouraged to contact Campbell Soup and thank them for responding to pro-life concerns.

Pro-life groups joining Children of God for Life in the boycott to date are:  Life Issues Institute, American Life League,  Colorado Right to Life, American Right to Life, Sound Choice Pharmaceutical Institute, ALL Arizona, Central Nebraskans for Life, Pro-Life Waco, Houston Coalition for Life, Mother and Unborn Baby Fox Valley, Womankind, Billboards for Life, Movement for a Better America, Defenders of the Unborn, Focus Pregnancy Help Center, Idaho Chooses Life, EMC Frontline Pregnancy Centers of NY, Four Seasons for Life, CREDO,  Life Choices, STOPP Dallas, CA Right To Life, Human Life Alliance, International Right to Life Federation, Operation Rescue and Pro-Life Nation.   Note since our press release was issued, three more groups have officially joined our boycott: LifeNews.com, Mary’s Outreach for Women, Pro-Life Action League.

Update:  More prolife groups have continued to joined our boycott. We now also have the support of the National Black Pro-Life Union and Black Students for Life, American Family Association, Life Over Death Scotland, Mary Help of Mothers – Beirut, Lebanon –  plus prolife action groups in 12 other foreign countries!  Please continue to spread the new of our efforts!

For a list of Pepsi Beverages included in the boycott: http://pepsico.com/Brands/Pepsi_Cola-Brands.html