It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Mars angers activists over animal testing
12-Dec-2007 - Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is calling for a boycott of all Mars confectionery products, after the company admitted testing flavanols, a "healthy" chocolate ingredient, on animals. Group spokesperson Shalin Gala told ConfectioneryNews.com that PETA has decided to target Mars because of its "unnecessary and cruel animal tests that are apparently designed to help bolster health marketing claims for its chocolate candies."
The case highlights the conundrum facing chocolate manufacturers eager to cash in on the "healthy chocolate" product trend. While stringent scientific research is needed to validate the efficacy of these items, many consumers and advocacy groups are not willing to condone invasive investigative procedures on animals.
Christophe Dandoy, director of communications for Mars France, admitted that the business division Symbioscience does test on animals while developing "pharmaceutical and therapeutic food ingredients", including flavanols.
"Hershey's program of humane non-animal research is an excellent model that the rest of the confectionary industry should seek to emulate," Gala said. "We are currently looking into other confectionary companies' testing practices to determine whether unnecessary and cruel testing on animals is taking place."
However, Swiss-based company Barry Callebaut told ConfectioneryNews.com that it is in fact necessary to test products containing flavanols on animals, as it is required by law.
"But no animals suffer when Barry Callebaut carries out testing on animals," she said.
Originally posted by ZindoDoone
OK, no animal testing. Just where do we test and who do we test on? Convicts? Deathrow inmates? When something is tested on animals at least they have some idea of the toxicity before they legaly test on humans. Just what is the alternative? I've never seen these groups come up with a definative answer to this question!
Zindo
Originally posted by chimpy38
(Eating a rare steak and a snickers bar while i type this),
Come on i mean really animals are here for one purpose and one purpose only to be used as man sees fit. I for one am tired of hearing about animal rights. They have none they are animals. One may call me cold or inhumane but i have been to slaughter houses and i really don't care as long as i can have my steak, hamburger or pick your meat the only thing that does scare me is genetic engineering but that is another topic entirely. Eat , Drink and be merry for no one noes what tomorrow may bring. You certainly don't see a shark or bear being remorsefully for killing and eating a human.