Why Aren’t We Insulted?

When companies and politicians treat us like compete idiots or pander to us by latching on to the latest trends, I think we should be insulted. We are being manipulated, but continue to respond predictably. The latest example that caught my attention was the CNN headline: “Colgate toothpaste goes vegan, organic and all-natural.” Using words like vegan, natural, organic and sustainable are sure to draw in customers, because they are supposedly synonymous with healthy and conscientious. The lemmings fall in line.

CNN continues that the new products “appear to be aimed at the same younger, more health- and eco-conscious crowd that buys from niche, smaller competitors like Tom's of Maine and Dr. Bronner's,” as part of a rebellion against artificial ingredients, a trend that Colgate-Palmolive believes “is making its way to non-food products as well.”

But not so fast! The Only Buy Vegan website objects to using toothpaste that may be vegan in name, but is not also “cruelty-free.” They provide a list of products that meet their criteria, including Tom’s as listed above. But Tom’s is owned by Colgate-Palmolive, which the Vegan Rabbit warns is not a cruelty-free company, because they do animal testing; and you shouldn't contribute to a company like that!

The vegan toothpastes are also “free from all the bad chemicals such as fluoride, SLS, parabens and gluten” and they warn us that regular toothpastes are poison. It’s true, warnings on the package tell us to keep it out of the reach of children and not to swallow more than the amount used for brushing. This is puzzling because fluoride is good for teeth, it’s in city drinking water, and reasonable people don’t swallow toothpaste. Of this list of scary ingredients, only fluoride was listed on my tube of Colgate; and since I don't eat toothpaste, I not worried about being poisoned.

This dental website is reassuring about those supposed dangers. “The benefits of a fluoride additive far outweigh the risks” and “just use 1/3 as much [as they show on the TV ads], the size of a pea.”

However, those vegan websites make it clear that it’s not totally about what people ingest (or brush with). It’s also about animal testing. I suppose that’s fine, but is testing necessarily cruel and is a blanket opposition to all animal testing an informed stance?

As a veterinary science professor once told me, “People who oppose animal research should consider how many of their friends and family could have suffered horrible deaths were it not for cures developed through animal testing.” The Foundation for Biomedical Research points out, “Nobel-winning animal research happens practically every year. In fact, of the 216 award recipients in the Physiology or Medicine category, 180 used animal models in their research.” 

This has led to many important breakthroughs. “Through the development of vaccines and other medical procedures, animal studies have accomplished amazing things, extending and improving the lives of both humans and animals.” The National Association for Biomedical Research details how it has led to significant progress in fighting the five leading causes of death in the world.

Anyone who wants an all-natural, organic, gluten-free solution, need look no farther than the kitchen cabinet. According to WebMD, “That box of baking soda…can do some major things” including holding off tooth decay by using it to brush your teeth and keeping your gums healthy. “A half-teaspoon of baking soda mixed in a glass of water can also freshen your breath.” It’s a traditional solution.

Problem solved, without undue expense. It may even be kind to animals, but be sure to pick the right brand. PETA says  Arm & Hammer is a no-no. 

As long as there are fads and trends, the advertisers and politicians will continue to use their magic words to get us to buy their product or their message before critical thinking has time to kick in. It’s so much easier to live that way, continue to be manipulated and follow the crowd.