What's Behind the "No Animal Testing" Claims

There is an interesting discussion going on about environmentally friendly products and products that hasn’t been tested on animals on Hammy’s blog.

There is also that new ad with some celebrities to promote products that does not use animals for testings.

I believe that ad is misleading. It shows animal in pitiful state, but how do we know those are animals used for testing. They could be pictures from an animal pounds.

The claim found on some products that mentions “Not tested on animal” can be misleading or false. This is because the company selling the product may not have conducted any test on animals itself, but some other companies many have tested on animals the ingredients the product is made up of.

Is there any regulating body to check the claim?

Then what does no testing on animals mean? No test at all was conducted, tests were conducted on human only, tests were conducted on non-living things only. How do we test for allergic agents and reactions on non-living things?

If a product hasn’t been tested on living organisms, how can we be sure it is perfectly safe? All its potential adverse effects are actually unknown. The company is actually selling a potentially unsafe product. The company is judging it is better to put humans at risk rather than the animals. If any adverse effects is discovered the product can always be recalled. In this case the market has been used as guinea pig.

“No animal testing” claim is just another marketing ploy to get the money of a segment of the customers. It is a marketing strategy that relies on emotions, and misinformation.

Why should we think that any testing on animal is always animal cruelty? Why should we think that animals used for tests are poorly treated or kept in uncomfortable cages? Why should we think that animals that are used for testing are going to suffer enormously and have an agonizing death? Why should we think test on animals are conducted in poorly lit unhygienic laboratories? That’s what the advertisement is trying to convince us of. They are just trying to enforce the stereotype of animal testing which is not totally accurate.

Personally, I’ll be cautious about using new products with the label, “no animal testing.” It is safer to use products that has been around for years or using generic ingredients known to be safe.