The decision by Unilever, whose US headquarters are in New Jersey, follows appeals to the company by more than 40,000 members of PETA and its international affiliates as well as a meeting with executives from PETA and its affiliates in Britain, India, and Germany, a statement said.
As a result of the Unilever decision, Lipton has posted its new policy on its website stating, "Unilever is committing to no animal testing for our tea and tea-based beverages, with immediate effect."
PETA president Ingrid E Newkirk said, "Lipton's decision means that the company will no longer harm live pigs or behead rabbits." Lipton joins many other major beverage firms, including world's number one green-tea maker ITO EN, as well as Honest Tea, Twinings, Luzianne Tea, and Stash Tea that have ended and pledged not to conduct tests on animals, PETA said.