Do companies still test toiletries and household cleaners on animals and how can you tell?
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By Jane Dalton
It may be the smell you like or that the colour of the bottle matches your decor.
But when you choose a soap, cleaner or laundry powder you probably don’t give much thought to whether the label hides a secret.
Worldwide, an estimated 500,000 animals are still suffering for cleaning products – including some in Britain.
But public information on animal testing for household cleaning products and toiletries is scant or confusing.
Shoppers could be forgiven for thinking that products labelled ‘cruelty-free’ are just that, or that animal tests were outlawed long ago.
But things aren’t that simple.
What animal tests are still carried out?
Rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, rats and even fish are used in experiments that include having chemicals dripped into their eyes, forced down their throats or rubbed onto their skin, while others are made to inhale toxic substances. Reactions may include vomiting, tremors, organ failure, blindness, swollen and painful eyes, skin soreness, par...
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