There is a lack of provided information from the government to the consumers (us) about the origins and process of how our products came to be what they are. However, this is probably also because there is no demand from the public to know this and for some reason, if a product is out on a store shelf we think it's okay to buy. We don't think about the possibilities of chemicals, what the ingredients that we can't pronounce on the ingredients label are, how unhealthy it could be, if anything was taken from an animal or caused animal cruelty, etc. Honestly, I think it's fair to say a good portion of people don't even look at the ingredients label. There is a "settling" factor that comes along with consumerism. The type that if a product is put out in grocery stores then that's fine enough for purchase from the consumer. There's never much thought that goes behind the product itself. With all due respect, even if people demanded to be told if the product inflicted animal cruelty or if it was vegan friendly or not...how many times has the government really listened to its people?

Before beginning, I want to clear up the terms cruelty-free and vegan for you. Generally, cruelty-free refers to whether or not a product was tested on animals. Then, veganism while it also means that there was no testing on animals, it as well means that there are no animal products in it and if there are then this makes it not cruelty-free either. This is because the product being vegan-friendly signifies that it came purely from plant sources. When something was taken from an animal or animals this is likely for monetary profit as animals are just objects with dollar signs on them to the agricultural industry.When the usage from a human being was not necessary at all. There are many replacements for products like that. In many cases, a person does not have the slightest clue about the ingredients of a product. Here are a few items that you may not be aware derives from animals:

1. Drinking Teas

Do you ever crave a nice warm cup of tea on a cold evening or when feeling ill? Perhaps, an iced tea sounds better on a warm summer day! Teas can derive from animals? Well, unfortunately yes. For example, Bigelow Teas specifically have made it known on their site that while some of their teas are vegan (derives from ZERO animal products AND cruelty-free), there are also a handful of their teas that contain butter esters (animal fat). Another important point, would be the other tea brands that are not vegan. Here is a list of tea companies that test on poor helpless animals: (http://www.nesteacrueltea.com/CrueltyFreeTea.aspx) Your personal research is needed here too, if you want to know whether your favorite tea brand has animal products in it or not.

2. Candles

Fall season is approaching us! On a August Favorites video coming soon to my YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/jackiemadridxo), I mention that since the beginning of this month, a favorite thing of mine to do is to burn a candle from morning to evening time. It is so soothing and makes a living space more comfortable! Unfortunately, while there are some vegan-friendly products in candles there is also usually stearic acid in them that comes from animal fat. This makes candles not vegan but "cruelty-free" in the general term. For more information about this along with vegan-friendly candles go to: (http://www.vegan.com/candles/)

3. Chewing Gum

The refreshing feeling of a piece of gum after eating a meal out somewhere. If you're like me, you do this all the time and go through gum like crazy. You may even be known as the person certain to always have gum so people come to you all the time! Well have you ever thought about what gum is made of? Sadly, there's plenty of chewing gum out there that has stearic acid and gelatin all that comes from animal sources. To think that a little piece of gum that you use to refresh your mouth, can have a piece of an animal! Who would of thought? That makes those a non-vegan friendly option but cruelty-free in the general term. For more information visit: (http://www.onegreenplanet.org/foodandhealth/food-items-commonly-mistaken-as-vegan/)

4. Soda/Pop

When I found this out, it blew my mind! Doesn't soda just have loads of sugar?? That's what I thought. However, that is not the case. Many sodas or pops contain ester gum which derive from animals. Sunkist is a guaranteed non-vegan friendly option as it contains ester gum. These are not vegan-friendly but are in the general term, cruelty-free. Remember to read the ingredients label! Inform yourself further by going here: (http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/healthy-drinks/5-surprising-drinks-arent-vegan)

5. Perfume

This might also be surprising to you as it was to me. Yes, there are perfumes out there with animal originated ingredients in it. Can you imagine spraying yourself with intentions of smelling good and not knowing your spraying animal secretions and glands on you?! For more information visit this website here: (http://www.theveganwoman.com/is-my-perfume-vegan-the-secrets-behind-non-vegan-perfume/) and if you're interested in knowing which brands are vegan go here: (http://logicalharmony.net/vegan-perfume-guide/) While some perfumes can be "cruelty-free" they would not be vegan and then there are some that are both not cruelty-free or vegan.

Did these astonish you like they did me? I ran a short-time poll on my personal twitter where I asked everyone this "if you found out a product inflicted animal cruelty would you still use it?" This poll brought in 47% of yes answers and a 53% of no answers (15 people participated).

Start a conversation below on or contact me personally for a conversation about this. How do you feel about this? Do you think you will approach purchasing items differently? Does this make you feel indifferent?