The boycott of PepsiCo launched by a pro-life ministry is over. That ministry reports the food and soft drink giant has agreed to stop using a cell line from aborted babies to test flavor enhancers.
Children of God for Life (CGL) launched the boycott last year after discovering PepsiCo had a large contract with Senomyx to use human embryonic kidney cells to test the flavor enhancers. As recently as March, PepsiCo had denied its involvement in the practice and, according to Children of God for Life, its business relationship with Senomyx.
But a recent letter to CGL from PepsiCo's VP of global public policy, Paul Boykas, stated Senomyx "will not use [human embryonic kidney] cells or any other tissues or cell lines derived from human embryos or fetuses for research performed on behalf of PepsiCo."
Debi Vinnedge, who heads Children of God for Life, says the victory belongs to God and to those who cared enough to be involved.
"Actually this news came after 11 months of very strong boycott efforts by the public," she tells OneNewsNow. "So I want to make sure your [readers] all know that it is their efforts that we are lauding here -- and it is because of their hard work that we actually have won this battle here on the culture of death."
Both Senomyx and PepsiCo have agreed to not use cell lines derived from human embryos or unborn babies, the result of a "David versus Goliath" campaign -- a small pro-life ministry against a large corporation.
"You know, I cannot do anything except thank God, really," says Vinnedge. "People think that they can't do anything, that you're taking on the big corporate giants in the world and we really can't make a difference -- but we can. We really can."
According to a CGL press release, PepsiCo took the matter "very seriously" and fully intends to live by its official statement on responsible research.
Other corporations have been using the same type of research to test flavor enhancers. Vinnedge is hopeful to have positive news from those corporations within weeks.
Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow
