(New American) A pro-life leader has won a victory in her efforts to convince soft-drink manufacturer PepsiCo to stop the use of aborted fetal cells in its research for enhancing the flavors of its products. Debi Vinnedge, executive director of Children of God for Life (COGFL), announced that in late April she had received a letter from Paul Boykas, PepsiCo’s vice president for Global Public Policy, confirming that the company will not allow the use of HEK-293 — a cell line derived from human embryonic kidney — in its partnership with Senomyx, the company with which it had inked a four-year, $30 million contract for flavor research.
As reported last November by The New American,
a PepsiCo shareholder had filed a resolution with the Securities and
Exchange Commission in an effort halt the company from contracting with
Senomyx, which, according to documents collected by Vinnedge, used cell
lines derived from aborted babies in its process of producing artificial
flavor enhancers. According to a report by LifeNews.com
at the time, Pepsi had “ignored concerns and criticism from dozens of
pro-life groups and tens of thousands of pro-life people who voiced
their opposition to PepsiCo contracting with biotech company Senomyx even after it was found to be testing their food additives using fetal cells from abortions.”
But after a nearly year-long campaign led by COGFL
that included a nationwide boycott of PepsiCo products, in late April
Boykas sent a letter to Vinnedge
assuring her that PepsiCo would not “conduct or fund research —
including research performed by third parties — that utilizes any human
tissue or cell lines derived from embryos or fetuses.” Boykas also
assured Vinnedge that “Senomyx does not use HEK cells or any other
tissues or cell lines derived from human embryos or fetuses for research
performed on behalf of PepsiCo.”
In response to the letter, Vinnedge said that she
was “absolutely thrilled with PepsiCo’s decision. They have listened to
their customers and have made both a wise and profound statement of
corporate integrity that deserves the utmost respect, admiration, and
support of the public.”
Vinnedge said that she had spoken personally with
Boykas, who told her that in the process of internal discussions on the
issue, company officials had recognized that it was not in PepsiCo’s
best interest to continue a policy that could hurt customer relations.
“We took the matter very seriously,” Vinnedge quoted Boykas as saying.
“We have an official statement on Responsible Research and we intend to
live by that policy.”
The policy, Vinnedge explained, “precludes any
research by PepsiCo or third parties they fund from using human tissue
or cell lines derived from embryos or fetuses.”
News of PepsiCo’s decision reverberated through the
pro-life community. “We are grateful to PepsiCo, and especially to all
those who sent a loud and clear message to the management of this
company,” said Brad Mattes of Life Issues Institute,
one of the over 30 groups that joined in the efforts to persuade
PepsiCo to change its policy. He added that “there are moral cell lines
Senomyx can and should be using — not just for PepsiCo research but for
all their customers.” Vinnedge noted that such usable cell lines could
easily come from animals, insects, or even non-fetal human cells that
express the “G protein” relevant for taste receptors.
Vinnedge said that beyond its contract with
PepsiCo, Senomyx, which receives royalties for products sold using its
ingredients, needs to rethink its use of aborted fetal cells in flavor
research. “If they do not use aborted fetal cell lines, they offend no
one,” she said. “If they do, they most certainly offend at least half of
U.S. consumers who are pro-life.” She said that “it only makes
financial sense for both Senomyx and their collaborators to avoid a
substantial loss of potential market. Senomyx needs to stop using the
aborted fetal cell lines entirely and we will continue to pressure them
to do so.”
The pro-life leader added that individuals and
families who had boycotted Pepsi products over the issue should now
write the company and thank its CEO for the ethical decision — “and then
go buy your favorite Pepsi products to celebrate!” Vinnedge said that
“too often we seem to focus on the negatives and forget to take the time
to let others know we appreciate their efforts. It is our sincere hope
that the public will once again rise to the occasion en masse as they
did in the boycott — but this time in appreciation and support of
PepsiCo.”
You can write to thank Pepsi on its website, or by mail to:
Albert P. Carey, CEO, PepsiCo Beverages
700 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY 10577
700 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY 10577
Link:
Related:
No comments:
Post a Comment