The heated discussions surrounding abortion and "fetal rights" in the U.S. have arguably contributed to spread of misinformation surrounding both the scientific and the legal technicalities of the procedure.
With certain states pushing for more stringent laws and restrictive access to abortion in the wake of SCOTUS' Roe v. Wade ruling, that conversation is getting ever more heated, with critics suggesting some changes could put lives at risk.
Embedded in this debate is a claim that has been circulating for around a decade and has again resurfaced, suggesting that "fetal tissue" is, in fact, being used in commercial food production.
The Claim
A tweet posted on November 28, 2022, claims that "aborted fetal tissue" was being used by "Senomyx, a California-based company" as "flavour enhancers used in food products are below a certain threshold, so they don't need to be reported or safety-tested by the FDA."
The tweet, which has received more than 13,000 engagements, went on to claim that the flavoring was used by Pepsi.
The Facts
The quality, sourcing and nutritional value of consumer foods is a long-standing concern of many Americans, with years of reporting and research showing the harms that lax regulation, dubious ingredients and careless cost-cutting can cause.
However, the notion that "fetal tissue" is being used as a flavor enhancer is absolutely unfounded, though it isn't new.
This claim goes back at least as far as 2011, tied to a dispute between Senomyx and pro-life...
Welcome to Reality Check, NewsGuard’s nonpartisan newsletter that tracks the false claims and conspiracy theories that shape our world — and who’s behind them. Please support us by becoming a premi...