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SHOCKING NEW p&G TESTS LEAD TO PROTESTS AT CHESHIRE LABS

Uncaged exposes killing of hundreds of animals in P&G tests as global protest day draws near

With Global Boycott Procter & Gamble Day almost upon us, Uncaged can reveal new evidence of animal abuse inflicted by household, cosmetic and 'pet' food products giant Procter & Gamble (P&G - makers of Daz, Fairy, Pantene, Max Factor, Sunny Delight, IAMS/Eukanuba and many more well-known brands).

Cruel sex-change tests at Cheshire lab

On Friday 21st May 2004, between 3pm and 6pm, Uncaged will join with activists from Manchester and across the North to hold a protest outside the Syngenta Central Toxicology Laboratory at Alderley Park near Wilmslow. The demonstration has been sparked by recent evidence [1] revealing that over 400 animals were killed in just one experiment at the lab last year. The research was conducted in conjunction with the multinational consumer products company Procter & Gamble.

The experiment used 423 young rats. The creatures were either castrated or forced through premature puberty through the injection of the sex hormones such as testosterone. A series of experiments then took place where the rats were repeatedly injected with gender-altering chemicals that shrunk their sex organs. After three weeks, all the animals were anaesthetised and killed by having their necks broken, and their bodies and genitalia dismembered to be weighed and analysed.

Other scientists have criticised these kinds of tests, pointing to "major scientific problems" with interpreting the results, and noting "severe animal welfare concerns" due to "complicated procedures and repeated injections". [2] Activists' outrage is heightened by the fact that there are several test tube methods for studying the sex-altering effects of chemicals. The animal tests are so unreliable that they cannot help in predicting potential illnesses caused by the chemicals in Procter & Gamble household and consumer products. [3]

Dan Lyons, director of Uncaged Campaigns, the Sheffield-based pressure group leading the protests, comments:

"These are crude and brutal tests based on outdated theories going back to the 1930s. We're appalled that Procter & Gamble, in league with Syngenta, are involved in perpetuating barbaric animal experiments at the expense of cruelty-free methods that desperately need support and adoption.

"Left to their own devices, scientists will persist with obscure experiments that have no relevance to the real world, treating animals as worthless objects rather than individuals who deserve respect. That's why it's so important that the public protests against these cruel and outdated practices and forces researchers to leave the dark ages behind."

160 rodents killed to re-test safety of sunflower oil component

This experiment, conducted by Procter & Gamble scientists at their American HQ in Cincinatti, [4] sacrificed 160 animals to test the safety of sunflower oil-derived ethyl oleate, one of the most common fatty acids found in nature. This test was conducted despite the existence of previously published human test figures showing that ethyl oleate is well-tolerated in the diet and is very safe. Three animals were found dead during the experiment. After thirteen weeks, the surviving rats were killed by 'exsanguination' - bleeding to death - and dismembered for examination of their body parts.

Further protests against Procter & Gamble will take place across the world on Saturday 22 May, on what is one of the largest international protests against animal testing.

For further information, and to participate in the Day of Action, contact Max Newton on 0114 283 1155. For a map of the area, showing the location of Syngenta laboratories follow this link.

REFERENCES:

1. Ashby, J. et al, "Testosterone-stimulated weanlings as an alternative to castrated male rats in the Hershberger anti-androgen assay", Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 39 (2004) 229-238.
2. ATLA 30, 103-113, 2002.
3. Procter & Gamble produce leading brands such as Ariel, Pantene, Clairol, Sunny Delight, Pringles and the pet food IAMS.
4. Bookstaff R. C. et al, "The safety of ethyl oleate is supported by a 91-day feeding study in rats", Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 39 (2004) 202-213.

Related Links

• Background to the Global Boycott P&G Day
• P&G action
• Report and photos from 2003
• Report and photos from 2002
• Report and photos from 2001
• Please sign our online petition pledging to boycott Procter & Gamble products until they cease testing on animals. The petition is at www.ethical-business.com/petitions.asp?pet_id=111.
• See also In Defense of Animals' P&G website at www.pandgkills.com.

Uncaged Campaigns 13.05.04

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