We raise over 10 billion animals for food every year. Each of those animals are raised on farms before being sent to a slaughterhouse. 99% of all animals raised for food in the United States spend time on a “factory farm,” or an industrial animal agriculture facility. Animal products are everywhere in our society, because decades of industry marketing have convinced us we need these products. But you can get everything you need from a plant-based diet!

Animals kept in captivity are prevented from exhibiting many of their natural behaviors. These animals are kept from their families, and often experience psychological hardship from their confinement. Zoos and aquaria also teach visitors and kids that animals are ours to gawk at, to relocate at will, and to cage. While there is certainly a broad range of facilities that fall into this category—from roadside zoos to accredited institutions—the logic of captivity undergirds the entire industry. Instead of going to these places to learn about animals, try watching a documentary or reading books about the amazing creatures we share our planet with!

Leather is produced from animal skin. Animals are factory farmed for their skin, too, and experience horrific conditions so we can harvest their skin. Leather production also uses harsh chemicals and contributes to environmental pollution. There are so many vegan alternatives to leather to try! Next time you want to buy a new leather product, spend a few minutes searching to see if there is a great vegan alternative to try instead.

Gelatin, a common ingredient in many gummy candies, is a byproduct derived from rendered animal bones and connective tissue. And of course, buttered popcorn has dairy in it. Try a snack without these ingredients, like Twizzlers, Red Vines, or Swedish Fish. A simple search can usually tell you if a snack is vegan or not!

Nothing! Sunscreen is so important for protecting your skin. But when you buy an SPF product, check to see if it’s tested on animals or uses animal-derived ingredients. You might be surprised!

“Cruelty free” or “not tested on animals” aren’t legally defined terms, unfortunately. Because of that, companies can use these labels to mean different things. Sometimes those labels only refer to the final product, not necessarily to the component materials. So a product labeled “cruelty free” may be made up of materials that were tested on animals. The only way to make sure you are buying a truly cruelty free product is to rely on third-party verification, which you can usually find with a quick online search.

Just like animal testing labels, animal welfare labels are not regulated as strictly as you might think. Labels like “humanely raised” have no legal definition, so producers verify their own compliance. “Organic” does not always refer to animal welfare standards. Kosher and Halal meat typically refers to body parts from animals who were not stunned before they were killed, meaning their throats were slit while they were fully conscious. These labels are all meant to pacify consumers into thinking their meat products came from animals who were humanely raised, but it’s important to remember not a single federal law governs animals while they are being raised on farms, and over 99% of animals raised for food in the U.S. spend time in a factory farm operation. The only—and best—way to make sure you aren’t buying products that involved suffering animals is not to buy them.