What is meant by “cruelty-free” as written on cosmetics and consumer products?
The cruelty-free label is similar to a low-fat label in the grocery store, in that the implications are somewhat hidden from the public. Both are marketing strategies to sell a product by making it appear more desirable than another product. A dieter will soon learn he cannot lose weight by simply eating fat-free ice cream. He must also make sure the ice cream is low in sugar and low in calories. A woman buying a cruelty-free lotion may assume she is using a product that was not tested on research animals, but this claim is also misleading. In reality, all ingredients that make up lotions and cosmetics produced in the U.S. must have at one time undergone safety tests, generally using rodents, as required by federal laws enacted several decades ago. The federal government places high priority on public health and the safety of its residents. Product safety laws help protect us from harm, should these products accidentally get into the eyes or be ingested. Our laws address not only the s
