Animal Free

Animal Free

For our purposes, the term "animal free" refers to materials containing zero percent animal products. This of course includes avoiding meat, poultry, seafood, eggs and dairy products, along with honey, fur, leather, wool, and silk. Animal free materials also eschew a long list of common animal by-products like gelatin, lanolin, rennet, whey, beeswax, and shellac. In the modern era, the use of animal products is so widespread and varied that people don't always realize when something they are eating, wearing, or using to wash their face might contain an ingredient derived from an animal. In addition, some products that claim to be animal free actually involve animal ingredients in the production of the item. For this reason, the vigilant vegan must always be on her toes. Other philosophies claim that the strict adherence to totally animal free living can be prohibitively expensive and time consuming. Instead, they argue, doing what is best for preventing suffering of animals is more important that identifying and excluding every ingredient. Still other strains of veganism consider the use of insect products, such as honey, to be acceptable.

And while philosophies can differ on the finer points, the reasons for living animal free normally focus on the ethical treatment of living organisms. Since animals have their own interests, the argument goes, it is unethical for humans to use them in any way we see fit. Luckily there are an increasing number of animal free products available in the US, from leather free shoes to hemp clothing to vegan chocolate. No longer must the ethical consumer be forced to hunt through small, limited markets in the outskirts of town for their "specialty" animal free products!