A San Diego biotech company has been accused of using stem cells from aborted fetuses to find new ways to enhance the flavor of food.

While other companies use those controversial fetal stem cells for research on vaccines and medicines, the Washington Times has reported the company called Senomyx has been using them for food research. 

The company reportedly made contracts in the past with companies that make soft drinks, candy, gum, and coffee creamers.

Meanwhile, pro-life groups are calling for a boycott of PepsiCo, accusing the soft drink company of working with Senomyx to improve their latest diet sodas.

But the soft drink giant has denied those accusations.

"PepsiCo does not conduct or fund research, including research performed by third parties, that utilizes any human tissue or cell lines derived from embryos or fetuses," Jeff Dahncke, PepsiCo senior director for communications, said in a statement.

Pro-life advocate Debi Vinnedge dismissed PespiCo's statement as "semantics."

"What Pepsi is doing is saying that they're not taking the cells directly from a fetus. Well, that's true. They're taking them from a lab," she charged. "They're doing this with semantics to get around what they're really doing."