BREAKING NEWS - PepsiCo

I posted earlier this morning about "U" Week, but had to interrupt my regularly scheduled posting to share some awesome news!!!  God is so good...and boycotts work!!

See below for the great news!

Now to tackle big Pharma...

For Immediate Release: April 30, 2012

Boycott Ends: PepsiCo will not use aborted fetal cell lines for flavor enhancers

(Largo, Fl) Children of God for Life announced today the stunning news that PepsiCo will not use aborted fetal cell line HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney) in their contractual agreement with Senomyx to develop flavor enhancers for their beverages.

Children of God for Life’s Executive Director, Debi Vinnedge, hailed PepsiCo’s decision as a major breakthrough and achievement by thousands of concerned consumers who have been writing and boycotting PepsiCo beverages since last May.

In a letter to Children of God for Life, PepsiCo’s VP of Global Public Policy, Paul Boykas stated that “Senomyx will not use HEK cells or any other tissues or cell lines derived from human embryos or fetuses for research performed on behalf of PepsiCo.”  

“We are absolutely thrilled with PepsiCo’s decision,” stated Mrs. Vinnedge. “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.” 

In speaking with Mr. Boykas, Vinnedge noted that the company had conducted internal discussions, recognizing it was a highly sensitive and controversial subject that quite frankly, was not in the best interests of PepsiCo.  “We took the matter very seriously,” stated Mr. Boykas. “We have an official Statement on Responsible Research and we intend to live by that policy.”

That policy precludes any research by PepsiCo - or third parties they fund – from using human tissue or cell lines derived from embryos or fetuses.  The decision means an immediate end to the boycott that began in May 2011- welcome news to both PepsiCo and their customers who have abstained from their favorite beverages in protest.

“We are grateful to PepsiCo and especially to all those who sent a loud and clear message to the management of this company. It’s incumbent upon us to closely monitor the situation to be sure that PepsiCo remains true to their word,” said Brad Mattes, Executive Director of Life Issues Institute, one of thirty five prolife organizations that joined Children of God for Life in the boycott. “There are moral cell lines Senomyx can and should be using – not just for PepsiCo research but for all their customers.”

Senomyx receives royalties for products sold using their ingredients. If they do not use aborted fetal cell lines, they offend no one; if they do, they most certainly offend at least half of US consumers who are prolife.  But Children of God for Life also heard from a number of women who stated they were pro choice yet this use of aborted fetal cell lines, crossed the line and angered them as well. 

“If for no other reason, it only makes financial sense for both Senomyx and their collaborators to avoid a substantial loss of potential market,” Vinnedge said. “Senomyx needs to stop using the aborted fetal cell lines entirely and we will continue to pressure them to do so.”

Vinnedge is strongly encouraging the public to take one more important step:  write to PepsiCo and thank them – and then go buy your favorite Pepsi products to celebrate!

“Too often we seem to focus on the negatives and forget to take the time to let others know we appreciate their efforts”, stated Vinnedge. “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.”

For more information visit: www.cogforlife.org/pepsiboycottnews.htm 

Also, please take the time to contact Pepsi and THANK them for doing the right thing.  Click HERE to email them directly through their website.

Issues

I try to keep this blog "light" and not make it too much a platform for some of today's heavier social issues, but every once in awhile I feel strongly enough about something that I just can't resist.  ;-D  So there's my little disclaimer.

Recently (past year or so) I've come across various circumstances that have led me to really take an interest in bio-ethical issues, especially those that relate to the medical field.  I don't claim to know everything.  I don't even claim to know a lot, but I continue to learn so very much; and more importantly I have come into contact with some wonderful people and organizations that have opened numerous doors to me when it comes to raising awareness regarding these important issues.

Sadly, most of what I learn in regards to bioethics in medicine is nothing short of shocking or appalling.  Or both.  And I will admit, this is coming from the perspective of someone who: a.) tends to approach health and wellness from a more natural perspective than "mainstream medicine", and b.) has deep moral convictions when it comes to ethical issues.  So that would be my 'bias' if you will; but alas these are the factors that help form my perceptions and thoughts on these weighty issues.  And now you know.

I give you such a preface in order to share an article published earlier this week at MercatorNet, and then today on Catholic Exchange. (Click either link, both articles are the same despite their differing titles.)  This article deals with the steep rise in autism rates in the US (and various other countries) over the past 20 or so years, and the potential implication of the bio-tech industry when it comes to this remarkable rise.  I'd say more here, but really, if your interest is piqued by what I've said thus far please just take the time to read the article. It is lengthy, but well-done and well-worth the read.  You can also (along the same vein) take a look at Sound Choice Pharmaceutical Institute and some of the work and research Dr. Theresa Deisher has done recently.  It is truly edifying to see others -- especially those in the fields of medicine and science -- taking such a proactive approach to these serious issues.  People like Dr. Deisher -- who are willing to put on the line not only their professional reputations, but also their ability to receive research funding and grants in order to provide ethical research and products to those who care so deeply about the health of body and soul of our society -- deserve our attention and support.

Say "NO" to PepsiCo

Did you know that PepsiCo partners with the company Senomyx to produce flavor enhancers for their products using human embryonic kidney cells from an aborted baby (HEK-293) as part of their research?  This is positively atrocious and hard to believe, but sadly it is very true.  Please read the press release below (or click this link) and consider boycotting Pepsi (which also includes companies such as Tropicana, Quaker and Gatorade as well) along with us.  Also, it is important to let PepsicCo and Senomyx know why you have chosen to boycott their products.

For Immediate Release: March 5, 2012
Contact: Children of God for Life
debi@cogforlife.org Phone: 727 483-9251
Obama agency rules PepsiCo cannibalizing aborted fetus is “ordinary business”
Shareholders will not be informed or allowed to vote on resolution

(Largo, FL) In a shocking decision delivered Feb 28th, President Obama’s Security and Exchange Commission ruled that PepsiCo’s use of aborted fetal remains in their research and development agreement with Senomyx to produce flavor enhancers falls under “ordinary business operations”.

The letter signed by Attorney Brian Pitko of the SEC Office of Chief Counsel was sent in response to a 36-page document submitted by PepsiCo attorneys in January, 2012. In that filing, PepsiCo pleaded with the SEC to reject the Shareholder’s Resolution filed in October 2011 that the company “adopt a corporate policy that recognizes human rights and employs ethical standards which do not involve using the remains of aborted human beings in both private and collaborative research and development agreements.”

PepsiCo lead attorney George A. Schieren noted that the resolution should be excluded because it “deals with matters related to the company’s ordinary business operations” and that “certain tasks are so fundamental to run a company on a day-to-day basis that they could not be subject to stockholder oversight.”

Debi Vinnedge, Executive Director of Children of God for Life, the organization that exposed the PepsiCo- Senomyx collaboration last year (see here) was appalled by the apathy and insensitivity of both PepsiCo executives and the Obama administration.

“We’re not talking about what kind of pencils PepsiCo wants to use – we are talking about exploiting the remains of an aborted child for profit”, she said. “Using human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) to produce flavor enhancers for their beverages is a far cry from routine operations!”

PepsiCo also requested the resolution be excluded because it “probed too deeply into matters of a complex nature upon which shareholders cannot make an informed judgment.”

“In other words, PepsiCo thinks its stockholders are too stupid to understand what they are doing with the remains of aborted children”, Vinnedge stated. “Well they are about to find out just how smart the public really is when they turn up the heat on the world-wide boycott!”

Vinnedge is warning consumers to be on guard for the roll-out of PepsiCo’s newest beverage that claims to cut sugar and calories by 50%. The product is called Pepsi Next and is anticipated to hit the market in the coming weeks.

PepsiCo stated that their goal with Senomyx is to produce new beverages with reduced sugars and calories. So is Pepsi Next the new Senomyx-PepsiCo creation?

While fetal components are currently not in the final product, there is growing concern among consumers that it could happen in the near future. With the explosion of health foods on the market, there is nothing to stop companies from using fetal remains as protein ingredients.

Impossible, you say? Actually because of GRAS rules (Generally Recognized as Safe) it might not even trigger FDA oversight. And that has consumers plenty worried about just what might be “next” from the industry!

It also makes Oklahoma Senator Ralph Shortey’s SB1418 banning the sale of products that are developed with or contain aborted fetal remains, critically important for consumer protection. See here.

“We commend the Senator for his courageous move,” noted Vinnedge. “The public is already saying no thanks to all Pepsi beverages and Pepsi Next is just that – the “next” product to avoid!”

To date, the world-wide boycott has expanded to include Canada, Germany, Poland, UK, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Portugal, Australia and New Zealand.

For information click HERE.  

You can also click here for a document from the National Academy of Sciences and then you can "find on page" HEK-293 for further proof.

Stem cells

I did a guest post on the bioethical issues regarding the use of stem cells over at my friend's "On the Issues" blog. Check it out if you have a chance!