What is Hyaluronan?
Hyaluronan, also known hyaluronic acid, hyaluronate or HA, is a complex sugar molecule and is a major component of skin and tissue.
The average 70kg person has about 15 grams of Hyaluronan in their body with around 1/3 being renewed every day. Hyaluronan has been found to;
- Protect eyes during surgery
- Reduce inflammation and increase mobility in arthritic joints
- Prevent post-surgery scar tissue, assist in wound healing
- Aid in the reduction of skin wrinkles in humans by way of dermal fill
- Mark tumour progression and is increasingly being used in skin care products
Even though it is forbidden within the European Union and a handful of other places in the world to test cosmetics and hygiene products on animals, there is currently no ban on making products from animals.
See More: Why Animal Testing is Unnecessary
Where is Hyaluronan Sourced?
Hyaluronan is sourced from bacteria, umbilical cords and rooster combs. Hyaluronan is produced in response to testosterone and is found in the combs of birds. The fact that roosters naturally have more testosterone than hens has been exploited by drug companies who have now entered the poultry business, and in doing so they have selectively bred roosters to have larger and larger combs. The roosters are then killed and their combs are harvested for commercial use.
However, Dr. Rolf Bergman, a professor of physical chemistry at Uppsala University, north of Stockholm, who helps oversee the Hyaluronan operation of Pfizer, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, mentions that at one point, the breeding program for roosters with larger combs had to be halted because, in his words:
We stopped getting it (the combs) bigger and bigger because all of the sudden the rooster couldn’t keep his head up.
How You Can Take Action
Microbial fermentation has emerged as a new technique for the production of Hyaluronan as the rooster comb-based extraction process is facing mounting ethical and health concerns over the use of animal-derived components in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.
Help support our more hidden animals and do not support this by:
- Checking your product ingredients for “Hyaluronan, hyaluronic acid, hyaluronate or HA” and do not support it through purchase.
- Ensuring what you are buying contains no animal products and are accredited with the CCF