POM says it has found no evidence of contamination and has not received any complaints from consumers. The company also says its tamper-evident cap ensures that no product is damaged or contaminated, and consumers should check the cap before consuming.
POM Wonderful said that in recent months, animal rights activists have pressured POM to sign a statement renouncing all animal research. POM refused. "Our research is helping to save human lives," a spokesman for the company said.
"POM Wonderful is outraged by the boasts of the Animal Rights Militia," the spokesman said. "If it is a hoax, it is a form of blackmail. If actual contamination has taken place, with the intention of injuring innocent people, it is an act of terrorism. Either way, the Animal Rights Militia is trying to scare and intimidate innocent people. That is criminal behavior."
According to a press release, POM said its priority is to improve human health through sound science. The company points to its funding of "more than $20 million on research performed at world-class universities", and says it "will not walk away from its contributions to advancing scientific knowledge. POM has no intention of diluting or hampering its research in order to satisfy violent extremists."
First estimates of Copa-Cogeca for the 2009/10 harvest of cereals, oilseeds and protein crops