Write a commentDear Porky & Buddy, I was telling my neighbor about a new moisturizer that I had just bought that I really loved and she got all huffy with me and told me the manufacturing company (I won’t name it because I really have no idea) is notorious for testing its cosmetic products on animals, mostly rabbits.
She made me feel really guilty, but how is anyone supposed to know how products are tested? I know some are labeled “cruelty free,” but is that even reliable? I am happy to buy products that are not tested on animals if there is a way to know, other than relying on my neighbor, that is.
Sylvia
Dear Sylvia,
There’s an app for that! No really, if you go to the website of the National Anti-Vivisection Society at www.navs.org. There are all kinds of resources to give you that information, including a frequently updated database, a downloadable PDF and an app. Plus, there is a ton of information about legislative initiatives to protect the welfare of animals, not just the use of animals in testing and research, but other issues, such as establishing registries of convicted animal abusers, and the continuing proliferation of ag-gag bills. It’s an informative and inspiring site. We think it will even make your cranky neighbor happy.
Now to answer your related question about the labeling of products, particularly cosmetics, as “cruelty-free,” or “not tested on animals,” we went to the Federal Drug Administration at www.fda.gove.
Here, in their own words, is the scoop on such labeling, “Some cosmetic companies promote their products with claims of this kind in their labeling or advertising. The unrestricted use of these phrases by cosmetic companies is possible because there are no legal definitions for these terms. Some companies may apply such claims solely to their finished cosmetic products. However, these companies may rely on raw material suppliers or contract laboratories to perform any animal testing necessary to substantiate product or ingredient safety. Other cosmetic companies may rely on combinations of scientific literature, non-animal testing, raw material safety testing, or controlled human-use testing to substantiate their product safety.”
Oops, it looks like you have to do your own research, but the National Anti-Vivisection society is a good start. On a side note, it sounds to us like you are a really conscientious and beautiful person already
Speaking of beautiful, find a beautiful new companion at the Be My Valentine Adoption Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 14 and 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the PetSmart Store in Lowe’s Plaza in Oswego. Cats of all shapes, sizes, colors and personalities looking for forever homes. Some will be beautiful—some will merely be gorgeous.
