Barry Callebaut has announced that it will not conduct, fund or commission any tests on animals unless they are explicitly required by law.
The statement was made on the company’s website following alleged communications with PETA US and its affiliates.
Prior to the chocolate manufacturer’s new policy, PETA US said that it had uncovered experiments on animals that Barry Callebaut contributed to which were not required by law, published between 2007 and 2019.
As part of its campaign to end animal testing in the global food industry, PETA US has exposed how manufacturers have conducted or funded laboratory tests in an effort to make marketing claims about products.
With its public policy, Barry Callebaut joins a growing list of companies – including Coca-Cola, Kellogg, Kikkoman, Lipton, Ocean Spray, PepsiCo, and Yakult Honsha – that have worked with PETA to replace animal tests with “effective, ethical, and cost-effective non-animal research models”.
“Barry Callebaut has unwrapped the golden ticket, and consumers will be delighted,” said PETA science policy manager Julia Baines.
She added: “PETA US is urging other food manufacturers, such as MSG giant Ajinomoto, to follow Barry Callebaut’s lead by banning cruel, wasteful, curiosity-driven experiments on animals.”
PETA has applauded Barry Callebaut’s decision earlier this year to inaugurate a facility in Germany that will be dedicated to the production of dairy-free chocolate.
FoodBev reached out to Barry Callebaut for any additional information. The company said: “Barry Callebaut uses animal testing only as a last resort and only when legally required.”