Does Nestlé routinely test its products on animals?
No. We do not use animal testing to develop conventional foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, cereal and chocolate.
Are you ever required to test new products or ingredients on animals?
On very rare occasions, yes. National authorities require new food products and ingredients to be safe for human consumption, and in certain cases it is necessary to carry out animal tests to demonstrate this.
We can assure you that we use animal testing as little as possible, and that our care of animals always complies with the highest standards. Animal testing should only take place where absolutely necessary, as part of the regulatory process to commercialise a product, or as part of the development of novel food products, such as those with healthcare benefits.
Why is animal testing necessary?
Animal studies are critically important to make advances in fundamental nutrition and health science.
This research helps to provide the scientific basis for developing novel ingredients, or new nutritional strategies for improving health. This includes medical foods that help people with acute and chronic medical conditions.
What is your approach to animal testing?
Where animal testing is necessary, it is vital that we are fully aware of, and our actions are guided by, our ethical responsibility for the welfare of animals. This includes proper housing, nutrition, care and humane handling.
Any application for animal testing must be submitted to our internal ethics committee for approval, prior to its submission to the relevant authorities.
We make sure that all our employees who look after animals in our research facilities are trained in the care of animals in research, to ensure absolute competency and awareness of the ethical issues involved. We keep abreast of new advances in animal testing, as well as alternatives to animal testing.
When carrying out animal studies, we apply the internationally recognised ‘Triple R’ and the relevant animal welfare principles to ensure that any tests are only used where necessary and that animals are cared for to the highest standards.
What is meant by ‘Triple R’?
The three Rs stand for: replace, reduce and refine. This means that we are always developing new scientific methods that, ideally, remove the need for animal testing altogether wherever possible, reduce the number of animals being tested, and refine the testing process.
How are these studies regulated?
All animal studies are evaluated and approved by the official animal ethics authority at a local level. The studies are done in full compliance with all relevant animal welfare regulations, such as the European Union Directive on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes.
We also support the international standards for animal welfare provided by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Read more in Research and Development
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