A facebook acquaintance of mine posted this link that because Pepsi uses HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney) cells to test its additives (rather than testing on live humans), and because they donate to Planned Parenthood, they should be boycotted.
First, there is misunderstanding about HEK-293 cells, that they do not necessarily come from aborted fetuses, as much as the Anti-Choicers would have you believe. Further, I think Planned Parenthood has gotten a bad rap in the past several years. I am assuming the negative feelings towards PP result from their link to abortions, not because they assist with contraception, but those make up only 3% of their total services (and are being more strictly limited by the day). The majority of PP services (97%), and foundation instituted by Margaret Sanger, lies with presenting options for preventing conception in the first place, allowing women (and men) to rely on more than luck to prevent pregnancy.
In addition, many donors (e.g. Bill and Melinda Gates, and maybe even Pepsi) put stipulations on their donations that the money cannot be used to fund abortions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood
Finally, a lot of people don't realize that PP is the primary care facility (women's health) for many women living in rural areas who do not have the insurance or the means to drive long distances for other care. Until we have universal healthcare, PP is often the only healthcare women in rural areas have access to: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/mn-nd-sd/images/Minnesota-NDakota-SDakota/7_PPMNS_09RuralWomensHealth-1.pdf
But, when it really comes down to it, I think Americans should limit their soda intake altogether, so maybe there's something positive to come from this misinformation?
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