Life Issues Institute Response to PepsiCo Denial

Many Pepsi consumers have expressed their concern to PepsiCo regarding news that they utilize human fetal cells in development of taste ingredients. Most individuals received a form letter response from PepsiCo denying that it is involved in any way with Fetal kidney cells. This response has included the following: “Please know that PepsiCo does not conduct or fund research that utilizes any human tissue or cell lines derived from embryos.”

However, this link is well documented.

Fetal kidney cells are not in the final product consumed by the public. They are used in the research and development of the artificial flavor enhancers. This research is conducted for PepsiCo by Senomyx. The aborted fetal cells possess proteins that express taste receptors, which produce a chemical signal that lets Senomyx researchers know they have achieved the exact flavor they are trying to develop.

Senomyx has 77 patents on file with the US Patent office, 70 of which cite their use of HEK (human embryonic kidney) cells. For documentation click on the following link and do a word search for “HEK293.” Click here for link.

There are numerous types of morally acceptable cells that could be used, including Chinese hamster ovary, morally obtained human cells and–as Senomyx notes in many of their patents–even insect cells.

As controversy heated up regarding Senomyx’s activities with PepsiCo and other companies, Senomyx removed all information listing company partners and collaborators in July 2011. However, they missed one.

On the left side of the webpage is a blue column with a headline that reads, “Recent Milestones.” The 3 rd bullet point reads, “New PepsiCo collaboration to discover, develop, & commercialize Sweet Enhancers and natural High-Potency Sweeteners.” To the right of this, the website reads “Current collaborators include Ajinomoto Co. Inc., Firmenich SA, Kraft Foods Inc., Nestle SA, and PepsiCo.”

This documentation has been saved and is available at this link: Click here.

If you require a more detailed and scientific description of the HEK 293 cell line, that information is available by clicking here.

Even the secular media outlet CBS.com has acknowledged the fetal kidney cells/PepsiCo link in an online article by Melanie Warner of June 3, 2011. Click here.

When the Campbell Soup Company was contacted regarding their relationship with Senomyx, they discontinued their business relationship with them. Juli Mandel Sloves, Senior Manager of Nutrition & Wellness Communications at Campbell Soup Company, stated, “We are no longer in partnership with Senomyx. This fact was discussed during the Senomyx conference call with its investors earlier this month.”

Campbell Soup further stated, “The trust we have cultivated and developed over the years with our consumers is not worth compromising to cut costs or increase profit margins.”

Life Issues Institute encourages pro-life consumers to boycott Pepsi drink products and instead purchase available alternative drinks.

March 19, 2012