A new report issued by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in Britain revealed startling information on tea companies and their use of animal testing of their products. According to PETA UK, the company behind PG tips, Lyons and Lipton teas tests their products on animals, which often die as a result, to make health claims on its products. The report, issued on Thursday, said that rabbits were fed a high-fat diet to increase their cholesterol levels and harden their arteries. Then, they were fed tea in their water. “After the experiment, the rabbits' heads were cut off,” PETA UK said in the press statement. “Mutant Mice bred to suffer bowel inflammation were administered tea ingredients in order to see if there were any effects on their condition. After the test, the mice were killed by neck-breaking or suffocation,” the press release continued. More shocking, little piglets were exposed to E-coli toxins to cause diarrhea. Then, the researchers cut the pigs' intestines apart while the animals were still alive, to see the effects on the animal. The piglets were then killed. “Experimenting on animals is not only cruel but also unnecessary. There are cheaper, quicker and more accurate methods available. Yet every three seconds, an animal dies in a European lab,” said PETA. Lipton did not respond to repeated calls from Bikya Masr for a statement on the world's largest animal rights organization's findings. Numerous reports in recent years have called into question the tea company's use of animals and animal products in their teas, including possible blood being employed as a die. The company has never given a proper response, but did say all their products have been approved by food administration authorities worldwide. BM
