is listerine cruelty-free

Is Listerine Cruelty-Free?

Does Listerine test on animals or sell in China?

Listerine is a well-known oral care company that can be found all over the world. But is Listerine cruelty-free?

For a company to be considered cruelty-free they have to meet all of the following criteria:

  • Do not test any of their products or ingredients on animals
  • Don’t allow others to test on their behalf 
  • Do not sell in a country where animal testing is required. 

After doing a bit of research, I found that Listerine doesn’t meet the above cruelty-free requirements and is not considered to be a cruelty-free mouthwash brand. 

Let’s look into what all of that really means and what you can do about it.

Is Listerine Certified Cruelty-Free?

When researching a brand’s cruelty-free status my first stop is the certified cruelty-free list. There are three organizations that give official certifications to brands around the world: Leaping Bunny, Peta, and Choose Cruelty-Free.

Listerine is not found on any of these organizations’ cruelty-free lists. However, they are found on Peta’s list of brands to avoid

Does Listerine Test on Animals?

The next step in my research is going directly to the company’s animal testing policy to see where they stand. Listerine does not have an animal testing policy on its website. So I went to its parent company, Johnson &Johnson for more information. Here is what it states:

“Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. does not test cosmetic or personal care products or ingredients on animals anywhere in the world, except in the rare situation where required by law or where alternative options don’t yet exist. By partnering with top research organizations around the world to develop and promote alternative testing technology, we are committed to both ensuring the safety of our consumers, and to making the strides necessary to eliminate the need to test any cosmetic or personal care products or ingredients on animals. ”

johnson and johnson animal testing

Johnson & Johnson’s animal testing policy contradicts itself. It states that they do not test on animals anywhere; however, they make the exception when the law requires it. Therefore, Listerine does allow animal testing on its products.

Is Listerine Sold in China?

Yes, Listerine does sell in China. After doing a quick Google search I was able to locate Listerine’s Chinese website. A brand doesn’t create a website for another country unless it is serving those customers. I’ve included an image of the website below. 

listerine china

What About China’s New Animal Testing Laws?

China has announced that as of May 1, 2021, general cosmetics such as shampoo, body wash, lipstick, lotion, and makeup can be sold without being tested on animals. However, a company is required to jump through various hoops for this to happen. As of now, Listerine has not been exempt and their products can still be tested on animals by the Chinese health authority. Even if an exemption happens it is still possible that the products can be subjected to post-market testing

Is Listerine Owned By a Parent Company?

Yes, Listerine is owned by Johnson & Johnson, a company that tests on animals. You can view a full list of brands that they own to see which other companies you should avoid. 

Is Listerine Vegan?

Listerine is not considered to be vegan because they test their products or ingredients on animals or allow others to do so on their behalf. So, until this changes, we choose not to look into whether they may or may not have products that don’t contain animal ingredients. 

What are Cruelty-Free Alternatives to Listerine?

There are several cruelty-free mouthwash alternatives to Listerine. Check out the list below:

Wrap Up: Is Listerine Cruelty-Free?

No, Listerine is not a cruelty-free skincare brand. Even though they claim to not test on animals, they choose to sell in a country that requires imported cosmetics to be tested on animals.

Therefore, Listerine is not considered to be cruelty-free. They will be added to my list of brands that test on animals

Now I’d like to hear from you…What are your thoughts about Listerine? Please leave your comments below!

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