http://www.care2.com/greenliving/cruel-beauty-which-companies-test-on-animals.html
Cruel Beauty: Which Companies Test on Animals?
By Maryann Hammers, Natural Solutions
The face cream smells delicious, feels gratifyingly luxurious, and promises to smooth out wrinkles. Best of all, the label reads “No Animal Testing.” Now you can be sure that no animals suffered or died to make this product. Right?
Wrong.
Despite what the label proclaims, this face cream, or any one of its ingredients, could easily have been rubbed into a bunny’s eyes, force-fed down a rat’s throat, or smeared over a guinea pig’s raw skin. Such practices continue at many cosmetic and skincare companies, even as the words “Not tested on animals” appear boldly on the labels.
“Consumers are shocked to learn that millions of animals each year are injected with or forced to inhale or ingest cosmetics. Those animals live in fear and loneliness every minute of their lives,” says Erin Edwards, media liaison for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the animal-rights organization better known as PETA.
Wondering how companies get away with such brazen claims? Well, the label could mean that the company itself do no testing on animals, but instead hires a laboratory to do the dirty work. Or perhaps a company didn’t perform animal tests on that particular product, but it does on others. Clairol’s Herbal Essence shampoo label, for example, clearly notes, “Not tested on animals.” Meanwhile, according to PETA, the company continues to conduct animal testing on its other products. Even some companies that advertise their products as natural, organic, or vegan, still use ingredients tested on animals.
“Testing may be done by the suppliers, and a company may purchase ingredients with a “don’t ask, don’t tell” philosophy. Or testing may occur by a parent company,” says Zibby Wilder, media relations director of the Animal Protection Institute. “So statements on the label may be literally correct to shield the company from public relations problems–yet quite disingenuous, if not downright deceptive.”
Reading between the labels
Since the label may not be telling the entire truth about testing, you need to do a certain amount of sleuthing to make sure you choose products that are 100 percent free of animal-tested ingredients (no matter who is doing the testing) and come from companies dedicated to that mission.
The good news? You can have your ethics, beauty indulgences, and an honorable relationship with the animal world–and it’s easier to do than even a few years ago. Many more conscientious organizations, manufacturers, spa owners, and consumers have established cruelty-free policies and have taken a stand against unnecessary testing.
PETA has compiled a list of companies that have signed a “Statement of Assurance” that they (and their suppliers) don’t and won’t test on animals. You’ll find major brands like Revlon, MAC, Avon, and Estee Lauder on the list, as well as natural favorites such as Kiss My Face and Aubrey Organics. (Download the guide at CaringConsumer.com.) Brand names mentioned in the pages of Alternative Medicine also boast cruelty-free practices.
“We started out 17 years ago with a wallet-sized pamphlet with only a handful of companies,” says Ann Marie Dori, coordinator of PETA’s Caring Consumer Project. “Today, it has grown to include more than 550 companies that don’t animal test their products.” Just as importantly, PETA also offers a guide listing companies that do test, including Cover Girl, L’Oreal, Olay, and Max Factor–so you can avoid them.
The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), which uses the Leaping Bunny name and logo, offers an animal-friendly shopping guide and also provides sample letters you can send to companies to urge them to stop animal testing. The coalition requires the companies it lists to prove that neither they, nor their suppliers, will conduct or commission animal tests during any stage of product development.
Power to the animals
Does it disturb you that your skincare and beauty regime may contribute to the pain, suffering, and death of countless animals? “It’s as simple as buying a different product at the grocery store or the cosmetics counter,” says Erin Edwards, PETA’s media liaison.
If your favorite brands don’t appear on the approved lists, let your dollars do the talking and use the power of the pen. Boycott the products and contact the companies directly. Ask them to clarify their animal-testing policy, and politely encourage them to join PETA’s or Leaping Bunny’s cruelty-free programs.
Not a writer? You can use Leaping Bunny’s sample letter to manufacturers. Or the Animal Protection Institute offers free postcards requesting companies to halt animal testing.
“If there is a market for truly cruelty-free products, industry will move in that direction,” says the Humane Society’s Loree Talley, who researches animal testing issues for the organization. “Consumers can spend dollars compassionately and let companies know that animal testing is unacceptable.”
Maryann Hammers, former editor in chief of Spa magazine, is an animal loving spa junkie and an aficionado of fine skincare products (and can vouch that some of the best stuff is on the approved lists). She shares her Los Angeles-area home with three cats.
Natural Solutions: Vibrant Health, Balanced Living offers its readers the latest news on health conditions, herbs and supplements, natural beauty products, healing foods and conscious living. Click here for a free sample issue.
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92 comments
add your comment »The company is Shaklee...feel free to email me if you'd like more info! ekoeppe@care2.com
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Elizabeth, can you name that company? I'm very intersted....I'm sure I'm not alone!
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All of my personal care products (makeup, shampoo, body wash, lotion, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.) comes from a company that was founded 53 years ago and has never tested on animals in any way!
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I always look for the Leaping Bunny on products I buy. However, after reading this article and learning that some companies can be deceiving in their claim that no animal testing has been done, I'm very discouraged. I will definitely make more research on products I buy and will check out the lists from CCIC, PETA and the Animal Protection Institute. There's enough animal cruely all over the world, I refuse to encourage more cruelty in laboratories just so I can look "pretty".
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I always look for the Leaping Bunny on products I buy. However, after reading this article and learning that some companies can be deceiving in their claim that no animal testing has been done, I'm very discouraged. I will definitely make more research on products I buy and will check out the lists from CCIC, PETA and the Animal Protection Institute. There's enough animal cruely all over the world, I refuse to encourage more cruelty in laboratories just so I can look "pretty".
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How can Europe have banned all animal testing on cosmetics and North America hasn't? Why doesn't North America do that as well?
The RSPCA led the call for the ban http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/Page/RSPCAArchiveNewsTemplate&cid=1110904571572&articleId=1235381174352
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I always check labels and never purchase any animal tested products.
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Here here, good for all of you. I do the same thing all the time, I write at least one letter every week. If I don't get answers back then I do not buy that product anymore, and I pass it around as to why. I talk about it at my church, at my senior citizens meetings, at the grocery store, anywhere I can tell someone, on myspace and twitter, and facebook, they can not hide as well anymore.. We as a nation need to stop them from the torture. The animals didn't ask for it. In most cases it has been proven that there are other ways to test today with more electronic testing than one on one. Peta has a sight where you can get the names of companys that still test on animals. I go there and get names were I write to them.
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These days it is very easy to let companies know that you do not care for their practices. In addition to not buying their products, send them an email and tell them why. And tell them you'll be sharing their inhumane practices with everyone you know. And with people you don't know, but that you may see in the store considering a purchase of their product. Hit 'em where it hurts, in their pocket books. If they won't be compassionate on their own, then lets give them a little shove in the right direction.
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oops...it is www.shaklee.net/elizabethann
sorry!
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