Animal Testing- What Year is it?

When I became vegan and changed my diet, I knew the next thing I needed to do was clear out other products that were not cruelty-free (and later vegan as well). The difference between cruelty-free and vegan is that cruelty-free means they don't test on animals, while vegan means there are no animal derived ingredients. So something that is cruelty-free isn't automatically vegan.


I originally thought of just my makeup, but soon realized that anything from diapers to cleaning products to clothing can be tested on animals. So how does someone make the switch? First, I recommend tackling one thing at a time. Otherwise it can be too overwhelming. The important thing is to not buy anymore products that are not cruelty-free and vegan.


Animal testing has no place in the modern world. Many non-vegans agree with this as well. I know plenty of meat-eaters who don't buy from certain brands due to their stance on animal testing. Most of us don't want to cause harm to animals and it's obvious the pain and suffering that is inflicted on animals when we test on them (for examples of the kinds of tests performed on animals, click here). But you may wonder, what are the alternatives?


There are a few methods of testing that have recently been developed. These options include:
- Utilizing 3-D Printers
- Technology that mimics standard human muscular function
- Using adult stem cells
- Synthetic Tissues


The Hasting Center has created a list of alternative methods as well. A common misconception is that animal testing is cheaper than these alternative and consumers worry about higher prices for their products. However, these practices are actually less expensive than testing on animals. Even if it was more expensive, I would still prefer to pay more if it meant not exploiting and torturing animals. Many cosmetic lines, including e.l.f and Wet n' Wild, are cruelty-free and more affordable. You don't have to spend more to purchase items that have not been tested on animals.


Animal testing is not only cruel, but ineffective in scientific research. This is because animals have a different physiology than humans and what works on animals doesn't always translate to humans. NAVS has stated that “[p]eople, in general, have longer life expectancies than most nonhuman species, metabolize substances differently, and are exposed to a multitude of different environmental factors over our lifetimes. Diseases that develop in people differ in significant ways from artificially imposed symptoms or in animals that have been genetically engineered.” So not only is animal testing not necessary, but it also proves to not work well anyways. So why in our modern world wouldn't we want to use alternative methods?


Animals experience pain and fear just like you and me and breeding them for the purpose of basically torturing them every day of their lives is inhumane. America banned the use of certain animals such as dogs and cats for research purposes back in 1966 with the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act, but the act excludes animals such as rabbits and mice. There is also no limit to how much pain and suffering can be inflicted on these animals. I don't believe that the pain and suffering of animals for human benefit is worth it.


There has recently been a rise in demand for cruelty-free products and companies are taking notice. If you'd like to look up a company, there are search engines such as Leaping Bunny and PETA. If you're ever unsure of a company's animal testing policies, you can always email or call their customer service. I've done this a few times and most company's will respond in a timely manner.


In 2013, the EU banned the use of animal testing in Europe and as well as importing products that do- which makes it much easier for consumers to rely on their brands to remain cruelty-free. While shopping for products that are made abroad, I'm always comforted by the fact that I don't have to look up the animal testing policies of every company because I know they're cruelty-free. Back in 2014, the United States Congress failed to pass the H.R. 4148, the Humane Cosmetics Act that was designed to phase out cosmetic animal testing and the sale of cosmetics tested on animals. So while we have been making progress, we have a long way to go.


I'd personally like to see less of this:

 And more of this:

If you're wanting to learn more about animal testing, I would suggest these organizations:
- Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)
- American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS)
- New England Anti-Vivisection Society (NEAVS)
- National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS)