I just got an email from PETA regarding Mars, Inc., who make among many other candies & products, M & Ms. I do agree with PETA in many of their campaigns & disagree in others, however on this issue I have no question. Apparently Mars, Inc. is still performing animal testing.
Here is a part of the email:
The experiments funded by Mars, including the following examples, are truly the stuff of Halloween nightmares:
- Rats have been force-fed chocolate chemicals and had needles jabbed directly into their still beating hearts.
- Rabbits have been cut apart to determine the effects of cocoa on muscle tissue.
- Guinea pigs have had cocoa ingredients injected into arteries in their necks to measure the impact on their blood pressure.
And these are only a few of the tests that Mars has funded. Perhaps most disturbingly of all, not one of Mars' experiments on animals is required by law.
Thanks to PETA's hard work and pressure, many of the world's major food corporations—including Mars' chief rival, Hershey's, and Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Co—have pledged not to fund or conduct experiments on animals.
What I don't understand is this - don't we already have enough information regarding the effects of cocoa on the body? Why are we still checking? Looking for a different result? These tests are useless at this point and have already been done, so continuing them is nothing short of unnecessary torture.
So this year, when I buy my Halloween candy, I will avoid this company. I am also going to write them a letter telling them why so they can make a better choice in the future. If you are so inclined, please join me. Here is their corporate address:
6885 Elm StreetMars, Incorporated
McLean VA 22101
USA
Tel: +1 703 821 4900
Thank you!
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