firefly wrote:

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Aussie says they don't test on animals! Are they lying??? I hate liars!

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Hmm.  Where'd you get that info from?

Here's a letter that was replied to on a Canadian TV show called Street Sense...

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Viewer Letter

Hey Street Cents. I have a beef. The PETA website says Procter & Gamble tests their products on animals. But on some of Procter & Gamble's products it says they don't.

For example, Aussie shampoo, made by Procter & Gamble says, "Aussie products are not tested on animals" right on the bottle!

What's going on?

Kristin Stewart
Brookfield, NS

Street Cents Response

Kristin, you can trust the label on the Aussie shampoo. It hasnt been tested on animals.

But in the future, there wont be labels telling you that. Thats because Aussie is now owned by Procter & Gamble. They think if a consumer sees not tested on animals on one of their products, theyll presume its true for all Procter & Gamble products when its not.

According to Procter & Gamble Canada, they no longer use animal testing for 80 per cent of their product line. That includes all of their beauty products. They say they only test on animals in two cases:

1. If theyre required to do so by law on products like food and drugs.
2. If a new ingredient becomes available and they want to use it in a product.

They say theyll only test on animals if no alternative test is available, but they still have the right to test on animals. Thats why theyre on the PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) list.

Procter & Gamble told Street Cents they dont want to mislead consumers. But Street Cents thinks it could be clearer. Youd think it would be a selling point. Why not put Beauty products not tested on animals, on the label?

Street Cents spoke to animal rights activists, PETA. They believe animals arent ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment. So they put companies on one of two lists: Tests on Animals or Doesnt Test on Animals.

PETA says in order for a company to get on their list of those who don't test, the company has to sign a statement of assurance saying they dont test on animals except where theyre required to by law, and they wont do so in the future.

PETA says some companies wont sign the statement because when they bring out a new and improved product, they want to be able to test it on animals like rabbits, rats, fish, birds, hamsters, mice and sometimes dogs and primates.

Some of the ingredients are tested on animals to check out eye and skin irritations and poisoning effects. According to the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC), an organization set up to monitor animals used in labs accross Canada, some 1.95 million animals were used in experiments in Canadian labs in 2000. But over the past 20 years or so, animal rights groups, corporations, governments and scientists have been working towards developing alternatives to animal testing.

So, back to the labels where we started. Some products say, against animal testing or not tested on animals. Others say, cruelty free. Some say nothing at all. All these different labels are just confusing.

Another animal rights group, The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, is trying to standardize labeling and has designed a logo with a leaping bunny on it. This logo is meant to help consumers find cruelty-free products.

But Street Cents couldnt find the leaping bunny logo anywhere on drugstore shelves. Sounds like an excellent idea that still has to find its way onto the packaging of your favorite brands.

So what should you do when youre out shopping?

If you care about the issue, look for labels that directly say they dont test on animals. If you still arent clear, call the company or visit their website and ask them.

-- Edited by Jeremy Riggs at 12:43, 2007-07-17

Excellent detective work, Watson!  (I mean Riggs.)  Thank you!

So that explains it.  I have some products with the "Leaping Bunny" on it.  Usually they're the more expensive hippie kind of healthfood store type brands.

And it's interesting how that aritcle mentioned the lack of standardized labeling.  I've also been warned to be careful about wording.  For example, sometimes I will see "Final product not tested on animals."  But that doesn't mean 2 of the 6 ingredients of the product weren't.  So that's a good clue, too.

Glad to hear it Woo.  You've made my day!