This is a question that has plagued us all. Veganism in its simplest form is not a restrictive diet; there are so many products that are made specifically for vegans now, not to mention all of the delicious natural foods including fruits, vegetables and grains which are vegan. However, there is an argument that products which are vegan, but are owned by companies which are not crueltyfree should also be avoided. One of the biggest names commonly featured in this argument is Unilever. Unilever owns some of the most well-known brands in the world including Dove, Flora and Wall’s. According to Unilever, their products are present in 98 per cent of households across the UK and their products are used by two billion people every day.
Interestingly, Unilever owns several brands which produce products suitable for vegans — i.e. they do not contain any animal products — such as Ben & Jerry’s, Marmite and PG Tips. Unilever has admitted to testing on animals. On their website it says: “Occasionally, when there are no suitable non-animal approaches available, some of the ingredients we use have to be tested; and some governments test our products on animals as part of their regulatory requirements. We are actively working with these governments, other scientists and NGOs, to put in place alternative methods.” So by buying a tub of Ben & Jerry’s we aren’t a buying a product that contains animal products, but should we be boycotting the company because they are owned by Unilever who do test on animals? Unilever is not the only company to do this; Procter & Gamble, L’Oreal and Colgate-Palmolive Co, among others, all test on animals.