News

LARGO, Florida, March 30, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – After the release of information yesterday on corporations partnered with a biotech company found using aborted fetal cells lines in food flavor testing, LifeSiteNews.com has learned that two of those companies – Solae and Campbell Soup – are no longer partnered with the unethical testing company.

Solae wrote LSN that while their company did sign an agreement with Senomyx biotech company in 2007 and is listed on their website as a partner, they have not been in partnership for over a year.

“This letter is to inform you that Solae does not currently have an active relationship with Senomyx nor do we have any plans for one in the future at this time,” wrote Media Relations Specialist, Jennifer Starkey.

“Our recent recognition by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the ‘World’s Most Ethical’ companies for the second year in a row signifies how seriously we take ethical business practices both at Solae and with our collaborative partners.  While we cannot speak to what Senomyx may or may not be doing to test food flavor enhancers, we can confirm that we are not involved in this for our products.”

Solae emphasized, “We live by four core values at Solae which include ethical behavior, respect for people, safety and health and environmental stewardship.  We take all of these very seriously, and expect the same out of our innovation partners.”

Children of God for Life, the watchdog group that publicized Senomyx use of fetal cells, and its relationship with the other corporations, in a press release yesterday, also subsequently learned from Campbell Soup that they very recently ceased their partnership with Senomyx. 

“I wanted to advise you that Campbell Soup Company completed its relationship with Senomyx earlier this month.  We are no longer in partnership with Senomyx.  This fact was discussed during the Senomyx conference call with its investors earlier this month,” Juli Mandel Sloves, Senior Manager for Campbell Soup Nutrition and Wellness Communications wrote to CGL.

Senomyx boasts innovation and success in “flavour programs” designed to reduce MSG, sugar and salt in food and beverage products. 

But what the company does not make public is that they use “human embryonic kidney cells taken from an electively aborted baby,” said Debi Vinnedge, Executive Director for CGL, the watch dog group that has been monitoring the use of aborted fetal material in medical products and cosmetics for years.