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By Kaylie Bozell Let’s be real here… We all love non-human animals. Who doesn’t love a cute fluffy bunny or a puppy that has the ‘puppy eyes’ down to a science? If you’re like me and an animal loving freak, then this blog will (hopefully) grab your attention. I’d like to talk about the ever so sensitive topic of cruelty-free products. What does cruelty-free actually mean? In 1996 cruelty-free shopping had become a popular topic. Consumers thought that cruelty-free shopping was confusing and frustrating. Most consumers had no idea what the term “cruelty-free” meant. Cruelty-free is a term that is used to describe a product that we as consumers buy, that hasn’t been tested on a non-human animal. However, the term “cruelty-free” is highly abused. Meaning that the finished product may not be tested on non-human animals but the ingredients that initially go into the product may have been tested on non-human animals in the past. Pretty deceiving right? Well here’s the deal… companies do not have to follow any legal criteria to put the “cruelty-free” label on their products. There are only a handful of logos that are legitimate. PETA, which stands for ‘People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ is one of them. If a company wants to have their company name on PETA’s Cruelty Free Shopping Guide, all the company has to do is complete a questionnaire and sign a form that assures the company does not conduct, commission, or pay for any tests on animals for ingredients. They also have to pledge not to participate in these acts in the future. Companies also have the opportunity to license PETA’s cruelty-free bunny logo. This bunny logo can be easily seen on the products while the consumer is shopping. The company only has to pay a one-time licensing fee of $100. Another label is made by The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC). They have a program known as the Leaping Bunny Program. The leaping Bunny Program is like PETA’s Cruelty-Free Bunny. The majority of non-human animal testing is performed in the formulation phase when chemists are testing out different chemicals to create a formula that goes into the product. These chemicals can be in anything from makeup to household cleaners. Why does this matter? Well most of us know what goes on with animal testing and that’s a topic that is also very hard to talk about and accept. No one wants to see a rabbit with fur missing and sores all over their body. Obviously the reason why we look out for these labels is because we want to save the bunnies and all the animals that are being tested on because that’s not humane. There are so many different ways chemists can test chemicals. We now have the ability to use stem cell and genetic testing for products. Not only do we want to be as humane as possible, but we also want to save the environment. Cruelty-free products are actually environmentally friendly. Non- human animal testing puts chemicals on and in these non-human animals then they throw these non-human animals out like a piece of garbage that include hazardous wastes. Those hazardous chemicals then resurface back into our environment. I’m sure after all this information I have included in this blog post is making you think twice about everything you always thought you knew about cruelty-free products. Good news! Being so technologically advanced, people have developed apps and free shopping lists consumers can use while making a quick run to their local Target. PETA includes most if not all the major name brands on their cruelty-free shopping list. I will include many lists in my blog so there’s no excuse not to shop cruelty-free. A few of the well-known companies that make household products include; Method, The Honest Co., and Seventh Generation. All of these products are sold at Target. Most consumers are on a budget. As a college student I am definitely on a budget. I also know that Ulta and Sephora aren’t necessarily wallet friendly. Mostly because you walk in for a tube of mascara and walk out with bronzer, eye liner, lipstick, and eye shadow. But somehow you forget the mascara (this is daily for me). Shopping cruelty-free on a budget isn’t actually all that difficult. It just takes a little extra homework. Most of the products sold at local drugstores have products that test on animals so finding a product there is a little more difficult. I’ll include the ultimate cruelty-free list of stores that are in local malls. These stores are 100% cruelty-free. A way that I shop cruelty-free is by couponing. Couponing is a non-human animal lovers’ life saver (literally because you’re saving non-human animals lives by buying cruelty-free products). So how do we know if something is truly cruelty-free? Well if the multiple lists out on the internet don’t include your product of choice or the companies name, you can always call the 800 number that is included on the label of the product. Simply ask if this product is cruelty-free or tested on animals. Just using your better judgment isn’t the best option anymore. Knowing how to detect the true cruelty-free products vs. the fakes has made my overall outlook on animal testing better. By buying cruelty-free you as a consumer are not supporting the numerous companies that test on non-human animals daily. That has to make you feel good. Not only are you saving a life you are also helping the environment. Next time you are in Target I’m sure you will see a fake cruelty-free label. You will also see a legitimate cruelty-free label, those legitimate labels are PETA’s bunny and the Leaping Bunny logo. Buy cruelty-free and save a life. “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” George Orwell, Animal Farm (1945) Resources: U.S Food and Drug Administration (03/19/2014). “Cruelty Free”/”Not Tested on Animals”. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/Labeling/Claims/ucm2005202.htm AAVS (2017). Product Testing Laws. Retrieved from http://aavs.org/animals-science/laws/product-testing/ PETA (September 17, 2016). These Companies DON’T Test on Animals. Retrieved from http://www.peta.org/living/beauty/these-companies-dont-test-on-animals/ Buying Cruelty- Free (2017). Confused About Cruelty-Free Labels?. Retrieved from http://buyingcrueltyfree.com/resources/cruelty-free-labels/ MSPCA (2017). Cruelty-Free Labeling. Retrieved from https://www.mspca.org/animal_protection/cruelty-free-labeling/ Piper, A. (May 30, 2014). What Does “Cruelty-Free” Really Mean, Anyway?. Retrieved from http://www.refinery29.com/animal-testing-cruelty-free NEAVS (2017). Alternatives to Animals in Science. Retrieved from http://www.neavs.org/alternatives/in-testing Leaping Bunny Program (2014). Retrieved from http://www.leapingbunny.org Emily (March 20, 2015). 8 Companies That Are Killing Animals. Retrieved from http://www.peta2.com/lifestyle/animal-testing-cleaning-products/ Dickerson, S. (November 12, 2014). 6 Of The Best Cruelty Free Cleaning Products. Retrieved from http://prettyfluffy.com/home-living/cruelty-free-living/6-best-cruelty-free-cleaning-products Suzi (March 8, 2017). 51 Cruelty-Free Skincare Brands for Every Budget. Retrieved from http://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/skincare/cruelty-free-skincare-brands/ PETA (December 22, 2015). Your Quick Guide to Cruelty-Free Mall Shopping. Retrieved from http://www.peta.org/living/beauty/quick-guide-cruelty-free-mall-shopping/ Romanowski, P. (2017). The 10 Different Types of Cosmetic Formulas. Retrieved from http://chemistscorner.com/the-10-different-types-of-cosmetic-formulas-you-must-know/ PETA (2017). Bunny Free App. Retrieved from http://www.peta.org/action/bunny-free-app/ Cruelty Free International (2017). Alternatives to Animal Testing. Retrieved from https://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/why-we-do-it/alternatives-animal-testing PETA (2017). Animal testing 101. Retrieved from http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/animal-testing-101/ Suzi (March 6, 2016). How to Spot a Fake Cruelty-Free Logo. Retrieved from http://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/cruelty-free-101/cruelty-free-bunny-logo/ Tenneil (October 23, 2015). Cruelty-Free Beauty. Retrieved from https://www.likeneonlove.com/blog/2015/10/cruelty-free-beauty AUTHOR BIOKaylie Bozell is a sophomore at Minnesota State Mankato majoring in Pre-Veterinary medicine. Kaylie is working towards a career as a Veterinarian and opening her own clinic. She is also an avid animal lover. Her love for all animals shows through her day to day life and also on her Facebook page. Comments are closed.
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This is a website about nonhuman animals, written by human animals taking a Society and Animals class at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Archives
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