PETA wants to end the old animal tests still required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for new fluoride toothpastes. In one test, 200 live baby rats have their heads clamped into stereotaxic devices, and anti-cavity chemicals are applied to their teeth. The rats are decapitated three weeks later and their jaws are cut open in order to examine the teeth. North American natural toothpaste giant Tom’s of Maine gained FDA approval for its fluoride toothpaste without using any animals, but other toothpaste makers still hurt and kill countless animals. Currently, the FDA considers non-animal test methods for fluoride toothpaste on a case-by-case basis.


After extensive talks with PETA, Colgate-Palmolive, maker of Colgate and Ultra-Brite toothpastes, declared “a moratorium on all animal tests of its personal care products designed for adults and the ingredients used in these products.” Although Colgate excluded its oral care products from the moratorium, the company has now submitted a non-animal fluoride test to the FDA for consideration.

While P&G has stopped animal tests for all its existing cosmetics and household products it has refused to stop such tests for new products ingredients and for its current oral care products. In fact, the company clearly demonstrated its values of profit over pain when it tested Crest and Enamelon (its competitor’s toothpaste) on rats just so that it could use the results of the test to denigrate its competitor at a conference in France. P&G is now working with oral care researchers, at PETA’s prompting, to develop a non-animal fluoride efficacy test to replace the cruel, outdated rat test. Unlike other companies, Procter & Gamble has not submitted its own non-animal test to the FDA, although the company claims that “a [non-animal] test is technically achievable.” P&G sells Crest and Gleem toothpaste.


While other companies are actively using and/or exploring non-animal tests, Unilever actually submitted a petition to the FDA in 1998 criticizing humane test methods and claiming that the cruel rat test could not be replaced! Our pleas to Unilever to reconsider its petition and switch to an effective, existing non-animal test for its fluoride toothpaste fell on deaf ears. Now, however, the FDA has announced that Unilever’s petition was unfounded, thus agreeing with our recommendation. Had the FDA accepted Unilever’s petition, efforts by other companies to use non-animal tests would have been thwarted.


Amway has submitted to the FDA a non-animal test for Glister toothpaste and has signed PETA’s statement of assurance, stating that it uses no nonrequired animal tests on ingredients, formulations or finished products—and never will.

•Ask the FDA to replace all anti-caries (anti-cavity) tests on animals with non-animal methods. Write: Dr. Charles J. Ganley, Director, OTC Division, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA, Rm. S205, HFD 560, 5600 Fishers Ln., Rockville, MD 20857. •Boycott Unilever products, including Aim, Close-Up, Mentadent and Pepsodent. Tell the company why you won’t buy its products of pain. Contact: Unilever, Lever House, 390 Park Ave., New York, NY 10022-4698; 212-888-1260. •Join PETA’s petition drive to help end unnecessary rat test requirements. Call us or see the action alert section of www.peta-online.org for details. •Never buy from cruel companies. Support cruelty-free Tom’s of Maine and the U.K.’s Kingfisher brand.