What do they mean by "Our FINISHED products are never tested on animals"?

Question

Bath and Body Works always has this sentence on their products. I just wonder why they put the word "finished" in there. Does that mean that while they are working on coming up with products, the in between stages ARE tested on animals?

Answer 1

I've noticed this too. To me, this means exactly what it says. The actual "finished" product is not tested on animals, like they are against shampooing rats or something. There is no mention of each ingredient not being tested on animals. It is a sneaky way to tell the incomplete truth. I asked a girl at Bath and Body Works once to clarify the statement. She disappeared into the back stockroom and then reappeared to tell me that no, they do not do any animal testing. This did not satisfy me... If they mean to say they are against animal testing and this is strict B&BW policy, then it shoudn't be such a grey area. They are trying to make themselves look good, but are doing themselves no favors.

Answer 2

I'm not sure, I haven't really looked into Bath and Body Works.

What I would infer from that statement is:

The ingredients they source to make their products might have been tested on animals in the companies that make them; however, once B&BW buys them and makes their own products from them there is no animal testing conducted. So it could be comprised of a few ingredients that were subject to animal testing, but it was not done by B&BW and that the product as a whole wasn't either.

Answer 3

It means that different ingredients they buy from other supplies can be tested on animals. Lotions have many ingredients and companies buy them from different sources. That means one of the ingredients from those sources can be tested on animals, but the actual lotion isn't, and B&BW doesn't do the testing themselves, the other companies do.

Try the Body Shop, they are all natural, 100% vegetarian, have a few vegan lines (the only non-vegan ingredients are things like honey, and are only in select products), and they do not test on animals or buy from comanies that do, so you can be sure no animals were harmed in making your product.

Answer 4

Very likely that the ingredients might have been tested on animals either by BBW, their parent company, or their supplier, but once the ingredients have been mixed together to form the soap, shampoo, whatever, that has NOT been tested on animals.

Now, it's possible you'll get something where none of the ingredients are tested, but chances are, there was testing along the way, whether it was by BBW or they're relying on old studies.

Answer 5

It means that the product you are receiving was not tested on animals but some of the chemicals within the product might have been.

Answer 6

What it means is that although the finished product is not tested on animals, some of the individual ingredients could have been.

Answer 7

Because some of the ingredients that go into their products are tested on animals.

Answer 8

With more than 1,500 stores in the United States, Bath & Body Works is one of the most popular personal-care product companies around. And it's also one of the nicest companies to animals, as Bath & Body Works refuses to participate in cruel and unnecessary animal tests. Whether you choose Warm Vanilla Sugar Volumizing Shampoo or White Cherry Blossom Bubble Bath, you will look gorgeous, and no animals will be harmed!

Answer 9

I agree with those who say that the products they buy may or may not have been tested on animals.

Which brings up another point. Should they be boycotted? If they are buying from companies that test on animals, aren't they just as guilty a KFC buying from Tyson?

Answer 10

Yep.

Just means they aren't spraying the finished body spray in the eyes of animals. They're just free to do the ingredients individually.