Today, the market offers a range of products, some conforming and some not conforming to the vegetarian ethic. Vegetarians need to carefully choose what to buy, basing their choice on reliable information. A vegetarian lifestyle is BWC's guide to help readers make their way of life as completely vegetarian as possible.

While there certainly are many products in the market that are acceptable to vegetarians, many more manufacturers would be willing to make available products if vegetarians use their purchasing power wisely and discerningly. One very effective way of making manufacturers understand the demands of vegetarian consumers is to buy only those products acceptable to vegetarian ethic (even if only a few are available for a choice) and to take the time to write to the relevant manufacturers informing whether they choose to buy or not buy their products and the reason behind it. In UK there has been a dramatic increase in the number of vegetarian products as people have insisted on and encouraged manufacturers to produce animal-free products. If it can happen in the west, surely it happen here in India where there are many more vegetarians. As consumers, we should also see to it that the relevant laws of the land are modified to take care of the vegetarian interests. With the entry of multinational companies that seek the opening-up of the 'modernised' animal-killing units in India, vegetarians have a much greater responsibility. Infact, vegetarian should not hesitate in the least to write to editors of publications, government departments, politicians, etc. airing their views and demanding their rights.


The product research done by Beauty Without Cruelty for this guide has not at all been easy. Evaluation of a product for the presence or involvement of any ingredient, additive or processing aid of animal origin would not as such be a difficult task if one had the required information. But, the response from the manufacturers in letting us have the required information about their products through our product research, questionnaire has been far from satisfactory. Out of around 500 manufacturers addressed, only about 150 responded and even these required more than one reminder to elicit a response. The reason for the manufacturers' lack of interest could be that their product do not satisfy vegetarian standards, or that their market is presently too big for them to take special note of the vegetarians' demands. Hence, it has not been possible to include a wide range of acceptable product. However, this should not disappoint us. When the uninterested manufacturers understand that vegetarians too mean business, thing will certainly change. Unless we, the consumers, in very large number make the manufacturers realise that they can no longer include animal ingredients and additives in 'Vegetarian' products, the situation will not change. It is up to each one of us to write to the manufacturers: remember, each and every drop goes to make an ocean.

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