The BUAV has identified an alarming trend in animal testing. We have found that food products are being tested on animals even though they are already being used by consumers.

Worryingly, most of these experiments aren't even for food safety purposes; they are prompted by curious researchers or companies looking for opportunities they can exploit by discovering so-called "health benefits", often involving foods already thought to have health benefits.

• Read more in the Sunday Times front page article

Examples of the cases we identified:

	Example 1: Yakult Probiotic Yoghurt Drink Subjects: Mice Experiment: Independent scientists wanted to see if they could cause chronic inflammation of the stomach and then improve the condition using Yakult yoghurt drink. Method: Extract bacteria (Helicobacter Pylori) from human stomach ulcers and grow in petri dishes in horses' blood Force feed bacteria to mice 3 times a week through tubes pushed down their throats Study effect of chronic stomach inflammation on mice for 9 months and introduce Yakult into drinking water Kill mice and dissect to assess any reduction in inflammation/bacterial infection Result: Yakult did help reduce inflammation Note: This was already known from studies of human patients. Please note Yakult did not commission this study and had no involvement.
	Example 2: Herbal Supplement (Green Tea Extract Teavigo) Subjects: Beagle dogs Experiment: Force feed high doses of tea extract and observe effects. Method: Isolate dogs in individual cages Force feed extremely high doses of tea extract Kill dogs and examine their vital organs Result: Dogs became extremely ill. Severe vomiting and diarrhoea were noted. Two dogs were found dead in their kennels and a further seven dogs were moribund (nearly dead). Dissection revealed severe liver and kidney damage. Note: A previous human study had shown that humans can tolerate much higher doses than this study suggested so these results add nothing of value.
	Example 3: Fruit Juices Subjects: Rats Experiment: Force feed juices and test for effects on cholesterol levels. Method: Force feed extracts of orange and grapefruit juice through tubes pushed down rats' throats over 30 days Kill and analyse rats Result: Cholesterol levels were reduced, though no weight loss benefits were observed Note: Fruit consumption has been recognised as an important element in a healthy diet for a very long time.
	Example 4: Herbal Extract Ginkgo Biloba Subjects: Rats Experiment: Administer extract and test for effect on subjects' behaviour in frightening situations. Method: Inject rats with extract of herbal extract Ginkgo Biloba Subject rats to electric shocks, loud noises and chemicals injected directly into their brains Observe and assess responses Result: Difficult to interpret Note: Properly managed trials of the herbal extract with human users would seem to be a much better approach for this product

How you can help

We desperately need funds to raise awareness of our findings. Please give whatever you can and help save defenceless animals from this terrible end.

• Make an online donation »

The BUAV has tabled a parliamentary petition known as "Early Day Motion (EDM) 4" which calls on the Government to stop granting licences for experiments for additives and other foodstuffs.

• Please help laboratory animals by writing to your MP, asking them to sign EDM 4.
  To find out who your MP is, please visit http://www.vote4animals.org.uk/edm4.htm
  Check here to see if your MP has signed up.

Thank you for your kind support. Together we can alert influential people to what is going on and strive to put a stop to these unbelievable experiments.