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Pepsi to use aborted baby cells to grow flavor chemicals in 2013

Aren't processed foods just wonderful? :lol

And in the next thread over or on other forums some Christians that eat this kind of stuff then talk about their need for cholesterol meds, diabetes meds, high BP meds, depression meds, and so on and so forth, like it's perfectly normal to eat this junk and it's perfectly normal to be on 4, 5, 6 or more meds costing hundreds or maybe thousands a month. But they still think (or I should say been taught) they live longer and healthier than 3-4 generations ago. I rather live in the 1800's. Healthier then.
 
Aren't processed foods just wonderful? :lol

And in the next thread over or on other forums some Christians that eat this kind of stuff then talk about their need for cholesterol meds, diabetes meds, high BP meds, depression meds, and so on and so forth, like it's perfectly normal to eat this junk and it's perfectly normal to be on 4, 5, 6 or more meds costing hundreds or maybe thousands a month. But they still think (or I should say been taught) they live longer and healthier than 3-4 generations ago. I rather live in the 1800's. Healthier then.

I have to agree with you.:clap
 
That settles the Coke vs. Pepsi debate for me.

Pepsi not only used fetal cells, but they did so in spite of knowing how controversial it would be.
 
That settles the Coke vs. Pepsi debate for me.

Pepsi not only used fetal cells, but they did so in spite of knowing how controversial it would be.

Heck, I would say coke is probably just as sinister. That's one of my vices --- rum and cokes (makes it taste good). Looks like I'll have to take the rum on the rocks from now on. View attachment 2647
 
OK... as most are aware, when I drink a soft drink, said soft drink is Pepsi so this article made me dig a lot further....

From Pepsi's Website:

PepsiCo’s Responsible Research Statement

PepsiCo's research processes and those of our partners are confidential for competitive reasons. However, PepsiCo does not conduct or fund research – including research funded by PepsiCo but performed by third parties - that utilizes any human tissue or cell lines derived from embryos or fetuses.


PepsiCo gave this statement to Snope's:

Pepsico has a relationship with Synomyx to help us reduce sugar in future products. Synomyx does not provide ingredients to PepsiCo nor does it manufacture PepsiCo products. Synomyx is required to abide by our responsible research statement for any work they conduct for PepsiCo. As with each of our research partners, Synomyx is also required to meet all relevant industry and government regulatory standards in the work it performs for PepsiCo.

Bottom line, unless Pepsi is lying... and who knows, we get lied to all the time about just about everything... Nothing in their partnership with Synomyx will involve HEK-293.

So, it comes down to the ethical standard of using any product from any company that partners with another company who does use HEK-293 in their R&D for yet other companies....even though the partnership with the original company doesn't involve HEK-293 in any way.

Which is indeed a valid ethical question.

Because, if Pepsi, Kraft Foods, Campbell's Soup, Nestle, and yes, even Coca-Cola (sorry Tim).... would absolutely refuse to ever deal with any company that ever used any fetal tissue in any capacity... then the market for it would simply dry up. Companies such as Synomyx would either have to get rid of all HEK cells... or go out of business.

It's important to note that Synomyx's research with the HEK-cell line isn't limited to food items. They have also used the research in conjunction with vaccine development and medicines as well.

It's also important to note that the cell line was developed back in 1972 from the kidney of a single aborted fetus... the cells have been cultured and manipulated so many times over the years that they are no longer considered human cells. No other human tissue has ever been used to keep the cell line going. Basically, we are speaking of cells whose great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparent came from a kidney of an aborted fetus... but these cells have long since lost their "humaness". The use of this particular cell line will in no way lead to further abortions.

I believe the boycott of Pepsi is more to garner attention rather than with the goal of ending food corporation's partnerships with companies like Synomyx. If the goal is to end a corporation's involvement with Synomyx, then the boycott should include all the companies Synomyx is involved with such as Kraft, Nestle, and Coca-Cola...as well as exposing which vaccines and medications are being manufactured by companies that are partnered with Synomyx... none of which is on the table.

But, one thing everyone should agree upon is that in no way is Pepsi making any of us cannibals... the cell line is strictly on the research side of the manufacturing side of things... none of these cells wind up in any product that is sold for human consumption.

Doesn't mean that there aren't some sticky ethical questions though..... Frankly, I think it means that I'll be consuming a lot more iced tea....
 
I heard about this over a year ago, and last I heard a few months ago, they stopped due to the boycotting: http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/bo...use-aborted-fetal-cell-lines-for-flavor-enhan

I had sent PepsiCo an e-mail thanking them for listening to their customers and told them I'd stop boycotting their products. I don't like Pepsi, but I like a lot of their other products.
Are they starting it up again? I'm confused.


ETA:
The article in the OP is from this past April 3rd. The one I linked to is from April 30th. Same source.
 
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If you read the letter that PepsiCo sent to Debi Vinnedge, it becomes obvious that PepsiCo simply reiterated their policy that I posted above... Frankly, it's doubtful that, as well intended as it was, COG's campaign influenced PepsiCo in any way....

However, COG certainly poses the whole thing as if their campaign highly influenced Pepsi... it's right on their website, just about the first thing you see... right under the menu bar that has a handy "Donations" tab....

Am I sounding cynical? Yep... I am highly cynical and quite suspicious of these so called "Christian" organizations that hype up an issue and then claim "victories".... all the while raking in lots of $$$$ in donations by folks wanting them to "fight the good fight".

The ethical dilemma still remains....

PepsiCo is still contracting with Synomyx. And, while Synomyx's R&D with HEK-293 will have nothing to do with their partnership with PepsiCo... Synomyx will continue to patent various things and make money from R&D using HEK-293.

Bottom line question for Christians.... do you want to give your business to a business that works with a different business that works with biotechnology that was derived from an aborted fetus?

I believe that this is an area in which Christians can make their own conscious choice. It could be, that now that the awareness is there that PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods, Nestle's...all do business with Synomyx and Synomyx does have a branch of their R&D business that uses HEK-293... many Christians will consider this a deal breaker. Other's could in good conscience decide that since Pepsi and all the other companies are not going to have any of the HEK-293 involved in their business dealings with Synomyx, then it's all right.

I think if we knew of every business dealing of every company that we deal with on a regular basis... we'd never go shopping again. Sometimes, we just have to deal with the fact that we live in a fallen world and all the meat has been sacrificed to one idol or another....:shrug

Myself... I'll probably drink even more iced tea... but I can't say that I'll never drink Pepsi again. I'll selectively boycott CocaCola instead...
 
Indeed, I will. As if I needed another reason to stick exclusively with Diet Coke...

And what about the Obama administration ruling that this would fall under "normal business operations"? It may be normal to Obama, but to rational human beings, that would NOT be normal. It would be abnormal and immoral.

I thought by the title, this would be a sick joke. Who would even conceived of such a thing?
 
PepsiCo is still contracting with Synomyx. And, while Synomyx's R&D with HEK-293 will have nothing to do with their partnership with PepsiCo... Synomyx will continue to patent various things and make money from R&D using HEK-293.
Crap. Back to boycotting, I guess....:shame

I know it's impossible to boycott over everything companies do wrong, but this issue is an important one to me.
 
Ummm, Mike?

Did you miss the part about the fact that CocaCola Company also does business with Synomyx...:confused


btw... what ruling of Obama's are you referring to? Am interested in that....
 
Crap. Back to boycotting, I guess....:shame

I know it's impossible to boycott over everything companies do wrong, but this issue is an important one to me.

Hey, life is always about picking your battles... and if you feel this is an important battle to pick, I fully support you.
 
OK... this is one of those nights that I'm obviously not going to get any sleep... so I've been perusing Google about this issue...

Earlier I had posted:

Frankly, it's doubtful that, as well intended as it was, COG's campaign influenced PepsiCo in any way....

And now, I've come across this from the Washington Times dated April 30, 2012 (emphasis mine):

“Mr. Boykas acknowledged that their discussions forced them to examine their own corporate policy that had been in place for years but ‘may not have been fully understood’ by everyone,†Mrs. Vinnedge said.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/30/pro-lifers-drop-pepsi-boycott/


So the Responsible Research Statement has been in place for years. Just as I had thought. The boycott really didn't accomplish anything... other than create a lot of buzz on the Internet and create some headache for Pepsi.
 
I don't think they were following their Responsible Research policy until the ruckus was started. Also, I avoid Pepsi because a couple years ago they donated $1,000,000 to homosexual advocates groups and have had some homosexual ads in magazines. I called them personally and they confirmed these donations).
 
Doesn't mean that there aren't some sticky ethical questions though..... Frankly, I think it means that I'll be consuming a lot more iced tea....
Tea is harvested by forced child labour! :sad


I dont KNOW this just starting an internet roomer .
 
:lol You're so funny, Reba!



However, your post does remind me of a documentary I watched (then subsequently read up on) about a boycott effort of a famous shoe manufacturing company... I believe it was Nike.

They had a factory in India. They hired many younger girls (10-14) to work the factory and girls would get up as early as 4:00am to miles to the factory to work. They weren't paid all that much by American standards, but far more than what Indian teen girls made.

Americans got all up in arms about this and started a boycott of whichever company it was (pretty sure it was Nike...). The result of the boycott was that the company closed that particular factory down and moved operations elsewhere. Score one for the do-gooders that saved all those teen girls from working in the "sweatshop"....



Except that, when they didn't have their factory jobs to go to... almost all of the girls were forced either into early marriages (if lucky) or, for the most part, prostitution.
 
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