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How To Spot a Fake Cruelty-Free Logo

by Suzana Rose

Nov 8, 2019

Along with fake cruelty-free claims come fake bunny logos that aren't affiliated with any official organization. I'm going to show you how to tell if the bunny logo you see on the packaging is legitimate or lying to you.

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Step 1

First of all, there are only 3 bunny logos a cruelty-free shopper should trust. The first step is therefore recognizing the logo: if it's not one of the 3 logos below, proceed with caution!

Many companies use arbitrary illustrations of rabbits to indicate that their product is cruelty-free. While this doesn't mean the company in question isn't truly cruelty-free, you will have to research it and ask them the right questions.

The 3 bunny logos you can trust are the following: the Leaping Bunny logo, PETA's cruelty-free logo, and the Choose Cruelty-Free logo (independent Australian organization; especially look for this symbol if you live in Australia!). Any other symbol or logo of a bunny is unofficial and has not been accredited by a reputable cruelty-free organization.

Does this mean that they test on animals? Not necessarily. But it means they might not be cruelty-free.

cruelty-free-bunny-logo-symbol

Step 2

If the product you're looking at is displaying one of these 3 trustworthy logos, the next step is to verify its authenticity by searching for the company in the organization's online database. Although it's a rare occurrence, some companies can and will display official logos unlawfully and without being certified by the organization! Here are links to each database:

Step 3

No bunny logo? You might be surprised to know that some companies can still be certified by the Leaping Bunny or PETA without displaying these logos on their packaging! This is because companies have to pay an extra fee in order to be able to display the cruelty-free symbol on their products. Roughly less than half of the companies found on the Leaping Bunny and PETA's lists sport the logo, so remember to check the databases above even if you don't see a logo!

To Sum It Up

If the logo on the packaging is not the Leaping Bunny's, PETA's, or from Choose Cruelty-Free, the logo is a fake. If the packaging displays one of these logos but you can't find the company in the organization's database (linked above), it's also a fake. And always remember that a company can be cruelty-free even without displaying any logo!

From The Cruelty-Free 101 Series:

Which Brands Are Cruelty-Free?

Download our list of 600+ verified cruelty-free brands straight to your device. Bring it with you everywhere you go, and never worry about supporting animal testing again. Click here to download

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+ Show Comments (38) - Hide Comments (38)
  • Kirsty Gibbs says:

    Hi is cruelty free international a certified logo

  • Chris Phillips-Poe says:

    Can you tell me where to find a list of non-beauty cruelty-free products? For example – I am currently trying to find a completely c-f spray paint. Thank you!

  • Digital Guru says:

    Very nice blog keep sharing. If u r confused to deciding your career so, by the progress in technology I will suggest to choose Digital Marketing Career Options for your better future.

  • Sarah says:

    I just saw a cover girl commercial and they have the leaping bunny international logo. Is this for real?? I’m pretty sure they sell in China.

  • Angie says:

    Thank you for the list of cruel free brands and companies.. This is very helpful.

  • Logo Bigben says:

    Logos should me meaning full and elegant that express to whole idea off your business. Our companies main functionality is logo designing in which we are expert enough you can check our different logo design on our web over here Big ben logo .

  • Calisa Christine Hill says:

    Thank you !

  • Nice your info is very helpful. Logo packages in UK are quite affordable.

  • Susan Haney says:

    Is Serious Skin Care cruelty free?

  • Logo Champ says:

    Nice your info is very helpful. Logo packages in UK are quite affordable. Not only you get professional service you also get an easily recognizable logo that makes your brand shine.

  • Erin says:

    I’m finding some companies are using a generic bunny and saying they don’t test on animals. (Neutrogena, this means you!) On the plus side, this indicates that the Leaping Bunny program is so renowned that everyone wants to be on it!

  • Jade Challis says:

    I love your blog. It’s always my go to when I need some kind of clarification. Love from South Africa ??

  • Sunny says:

    I recently found an Avon catalog with a bunny logo on the back page. Does this mean that Avon products are now cruelty free.

    • Angela Jones says:

      yes they are cause NEW AVON LLC is a new company that broke off from actual international Avon 3 years ago and do not sell anywhere where animal testing is required. I work for them and our products are leaping bunny certified and are all transtioning into becoming plant based/vegan and also our products are fully and 100% made in the US

  • Cortney Gomez says:

    Does anybody know if the following brands/products are cruelty free?

    Spenser & Jensen
    Heeltastic (Distributed by Telebrands Corp. Invented by Melinda Clark)

  • Kai says:

    Thank you for the post, Suzi!
    You mentioned that we should only trust 3 bunny logos, which is not including the “Rabbit With Protecting Hand Logo” from German Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Does it mean that the logo from GSPCA is not reliable?

    • Suzi Scheler says:

      Hi Kai! Does it appear on cosmetics, and do they certify brands as cruelty-free? I’m not based in Europe so I’ve never seen their logo on a product. If it’s a legitimate organization though, it’s most likely trustworthy.

  • Kai says:

    Thank you for the post, Suzi!
    You mentioned that only 3 bunny logos we should trust, which is not including “The Rabbit With Protecting Hand Logo” from German society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Does it mean that the logo from GSPCA is not reliable?

  • Shreya says:

    Idk……there is a symbol of a rabbit with the stop sign on it…..the print above it is so tiny that I can only read “animal testing”…..and there is a word before it….

  • Charlotte Fowler says:

    I’d just like to remind people that some of these organisations such as Leaping Bunny charge companies to use their logo. Not making any criticism or anything but I sometimes see people calling companies liars and such because they don’t have the logo when that’s not the case.

  • Elisha says:

    Unfortunately non-vegan products ARE technically ‘cruelty free’ if they’re not tested on animals. :/

  • Do your homework! PETA have modernised their logo. You are showing the old version only. and they have a UK base too!

  • Brianna says:

    i think my head just exploded!

  • Beth K says:

    I was just hoodwinked by a brand that listed the CCF logo on their packaging! Such a bummer, b/c they are a small U.S. company and seem to have excellent ingredients. But after reading this post, I checked for them on the CCF database and they were not there! I also messaged them and they did not confirm any alliance with CCF…so frustrating!

  • Katee Kelly says:

    I have a BH Cosmetics palette with the supposed CCF bunny on the back. I tried to find them on their list but cannot. Have they lost their certification?

    • Suzi says:

      They’re still Leaping Bunny-certified! I don’t recall them being CCF-certified though. Also, keep in mind that a company can be certified without showing the logo!

  • Jane Sergeyeva says:

    Though PETA bunny looks impressive it doesn’t mean it’s cruelty free. What is required from an applicant is to fill an application form (!). Nothing else. On opposite, Leaping Bunny program holds the right to inspect the premises at any moment and check any supplied ingredient for cruelty free status. That’s why it’s barely the only one logo you can rely on, saying that not only the final product wasn’t tested on animals but neither ingredients and raw materials.

  • Ann says:

    Good to know! Thank you!

  • Erin says:

    What about Ole Henricksen skin care line? They are not listed but their public cudtomer service rep personally emailed me thst they do not test ingredients or final product on animals. Can a conpany be cruelty free wothout being officially certified?

  • Izzy Perry says:

    This is great, thank you! I had seen the CCF Rabbit before but wasn’t sure if it was an “official” bunny or not. It’s nice to know that it is.

  • Aniqa says:

    Thank you for sharing this! Your blog is so informative 🙂

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