hi i had a question about who to boycott

[bunniemunch]

i need some links of companies who use foreskins as a way to test their products etc. i am going to post them on an english board i attend

thanks

[minkajane]

I just know of Mary Kay cosmetics. They use foreskin testing. Also, I no longer recommend the Ameda Purely Yours breast pump because Hollister, the company that manufactures them, also manufactures the Plastibell circumcision device. They cause breastfeeding problems by facilitating circumcision, then "solve" them with their wonderful breastpump.

[fishface]

I am fairly certain Limited Brands out of New Albany, OH do. (Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret fragrances/beauty products)

[Mandala126]

Are there any websites with this information? Where do I go to find out? I want to show it to DH, I'm still trying to convert him (it's a slow process ).

[serendipity22]

Oprah Winfrey has had this woman on her show who promotes an anti-aging cream which is made from infant foreskins.

[titania8]

what *is* foreskin tesing?

Originally Posted by fishface

I am fairly certain Limited Brands out of New Albany, OH do. (Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret fragrances/beauty products)

how do we find out? can we just write them and ask?

[mamabeca]

Foreskin testing = using cells taken from infant foreskins (not ones from older babies, just newborns) to test out specific chemical combinations that manufacturers want to use in cosmetics and other products used ON the skin. They look to find abnormal growth patterns, and determine from that whether the products may affect people significantly or nominally, and if so, whether it is worth the risk to produce the product with a small label (known side effects etc.) or to discontinue research on it. Foreskins provide a good free source of direct skin, rather than synthesized skin. They are differentiated tissue cells (unlike umbilicus which are undifferentiated), which means they use them because they should react the same way as skin from elsewhere on the body. Unfortunately that isn't the case. Skin is very different place to place. Nipples and penis shafts and vulva and anal skin is very similar in stretch, and sensitivity, but the construction of the skin layers is very different. Just as an example. Anyway, there isn't much evidence that testing on skin cells outside of the 'real world' has had any positive effect on the cosmetic industry's impact on human health - and none that it hasn't! In most cases, the g'vt will say that it is the company's responsibility to test the product to the satisfaction of the FDA (if it falls within the purview of the FDA that is!), and the company will say it is the responsibility of the FDA to protect the public from potentially hazardous products.

I'd be really interested too, though, in a list if there were one!

[DklovesMkandJK]

Originally Posted by fishface

I am fairly certain Limited Brands out of New Albany, OH do. (Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret fragrances/beauty products)

@%^$&(%#!!!!!!!
I love Bath and Body Works........: well, I used to love Bath and Body Works.

[Fi.]

Body Shop and anything made/owned by L'Oreal.

[tuansprincess]

Ok - I did some research on this when trying to convince a former (you know the outcome ) friend not to circ her son.

This is what I found.
Apligraf is "a living, bi-layered skin substitute . . . manufactured under aseptic conditions from human neo-natal male foreskin tissue".
More Apligraf info

Interruptions in our supply of materials may occur in the future or we may
have to obtain alternative vendors for these materials. Any significant supply
interruption would adversely affect the production of Apligraf. In addition, an
uncorrected impurity or a supplier's variation in a raw material, either unknown
to us or incompatible with our manufacturing process, could hurt our ability to
manufacture products. pg 9

Here is an article on the face cream Oprah hawks/ed.
Foreskin Face Cream

Products that use Testskin -

“Organogenesis, a biotech firm in Massachusetts, has come up with a safe and cruelty-free alternative for these tests [cosmetic tests on animals]: a lab-grown piece of human skin... Testskin is already being used by laboratories at Helene Curtis, Estee Lauder, and Mary Kay Cosmetics.”
Discover Magazine, August, 1991

source

Foreskins For Sale - a great compilation of info about foreskin peddling.

Also, in 2004 this was discussed here on MDC

Hope you find what you're looking for.

[Mandala126]

What a great info!! Thank you!! You rock!!

[Treece]

Check out the link in my sig. (it may have been posted)

[Eben'sMama]

Well, !!! L'oreal owns Kiehl's and that's my favorite shampoo! :
I love how they're very clear on their packaging that it's not tested on animals--no, just amputated body parts of baby boys. Uggh.

[Chiroalltheway]

I know, it's like what products CAN we use???!!

[Daisyuk]

Previous posts and information on foreskin use by industry:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...6&postcount=21

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=700815

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=694692