From: jenny (65-78-108-150.c3-0.eas-ubr5.atw-eas.pa.cable.rcn.com -65.78.108.150)
Subject: A response from TOM...
Date: March 27, 2006 at 10:14 am PST
In Reply to: Colgate-Palmolive buys Tom's Of Maine!!! posted by vegan david on March 22, 2006 at 3:22 pm:
I found this on the internet:
Thank you for your e-mail. Thank you also for sharing your concern about our
partnership with Colgate-Palmolive. I'm glad you've provided us the chance to
respond to your concern.
Here are the facts about this partnership. When the agreement is finalized,
Colgate-Palmolive will own 84% of our company; but Tom's of Maine will remain an
independent, stand-alone subsidiary based here in Maine.
This means that we will are still doing business the same way we have for the
last 36 years. Tom and Kate will continue to lead our company. Tom's of Maine
products, formulations and ingredients will remain the same as they have always
been. We will continue to make products that are natural, free of artificial
preservatives, sweeteners and dyes. And we will continue to make safe,
effective products without the use of animal ingredients and without the use of
animal testing. Further, we will remain in Kennebunk, Maine, and our employees
will remain in their jobs here in Maine.
As you know, testing our natural products for safety and efficacy without the
use of animals has been a central value for Tom's of Maine from the beginning in
1970. In 1984, we even challenged the FDA and created the first ever non-animal
testing toothpaste approval process.
Our commitment to no animal ingredient and no animal testing policies, and all
of our standards for natural and sustainable, are part of the agreement with
Colgate. They remain intact and unchanged.
We are encouraged to see that 99% of internal requests for safety assessment at
Colgate are addressed by using available databases and non-animal alternatives
with a goal of eliminating all animal testing in the future. In 1999, Colgate
declared a voluntary moratorium on all animal testing of its Personal Care
Products designed for adults and the ingredients used in those products.
Further, Colgate has committed more than a million dollars annually towards the
development, validation, and scientific and regulatory acceptance of alternative
non-animal testing methods of product safety research. We hope to help Colgate
reach its ultimate goal of eliminating all animal testing by sharing what we've
learned over the years.
So while we understand your concern, we are actually excited and confident in
this agreement with Colgate-Palmolive. We see a growing number of consumers
like you changing the rules of the economy and making natural mainstream.
We hope you'll stay interested and in touch. Over time, we think you'll find
that nothing you like about Tom's of Maine or our products has changed. As
always we remain interested in hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Consumer Dialogue and Services
