Go open your refrigerator. You should probably check the cupboards too. Who’s in there? Read the names of the products you see. Are they names that are familiar to you? Do you know who gets and spends the profit? Do you agree with their policies and values? It’s a funny thing about corporations and the way the family business is handled. There’s a good chance many of the products in your kitchen are owned by parent companies you didn’t realize you were supporting.

If you are one of many Americans who consider each dollar a vote, it may come as a surprise that our votes are being cast for Fortune 500 companies. While trying to support environmentally sound businesses, it turns out we are often still shopping from the same corporate brands. For those who try to avoid companies that still use animal testing and ignore environmental concerns, it becomes much more difficult to do so when companies operate under other names.

	Does your dressing or dessert taste different if you know it's made by a tobacco company?

A recent example of this occurred when one of the largest tobacco companies in operation, Philip Morris, changed its name to Altria to distance itself from the controversy of the tobacco industry. In order to divide the tobacco giant from its subsidiaries, Philip Morris products under the Altria brand do not list affiliation to one another. Kraft is one of the many companies owned by Altria that gives no listing of the connection. The problem arises when a product’s packaging misleads consumers and they no longer know from whom they are shopping. When purchasing Kraft’s Honey Maid graham crackers, it is very likely that consumers won’t connect the dots to the tobacco industry that owns them. This can become a problem for concerned shoppers who like to know where their dollar is going, but don’t have time to research each product.

In some cases, it may be significant to know the business practices of parent companies. While many corporations do practice business with a standard of trust and decency, there are others that do not. According to the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, Kraft has been involved with animal testing on cats. B.U.A.V. notes that as a whole, Kraft’s parent company Altria has conducted large-scale tests on vast numbers of animals for the purpose of studying the effects of smoking. Some of the popular brands under the Kraft line are Knudson’s, Maxwell House, Altoids and DiGiornio, common items in many kitchens. But who stops to think whether the pizza we are making for dinner or our morning pot of coffee is somehow linked to toxicology experiments on cats? Of course, these Kraft products are just a few examples of the corporate parent phenomenon. There are other corporations that we unwittingly support with our consumer dollars.

Was the shampoo you used this morning tested on animals?

According to groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and B.U.A.V., Procter & Gamble has been linked to dozens of cases of animal abuse. The corporation, which has holdings in everything from baby nutrition to home-cleaning products, has been cited for testing over 300 guinea pigs for irritability and sensitivity to sunscreen ingredients. For decades, Procter & Gamble has used dogs, hamsters and ferrets to test products for human safety. While in 1999, Procter & Gamble did announce their decision to stop testing on animals for the majority of their products, they did not rule out the practice entirely. Many activists remain concerned and skeptical about the corporation’s testing procedures and its dedication to animal rights. Procter & Gamble is parent to many companies we may consider everyday brands. Under Procter & Gamble control are PUR water filters, Pringles, Pepto-Bismol and Metamucil, just to name a few.

There are trusted corporations who are committed to manufacturing environmentally sound and animal-friendly products. Companies like Jason make pure, natural and organic health care products. Aside from using exclusively organic materials, Jason is also compiling a list of acceptable ingredients to be used by all organic personal-care companies. Corporations like Planet and Seventh Generation also offer a simple alternative to larger corporate products. These companies implement recycling and other reduction practices for their products and packaging. Seventh Generation began releasing Corporate Responsibility Reports last year. Within the document the company states, “Private enterprises, whether local or national or global, represents the largest force capable of providing workable solutions to the daunting social and environmental challenges facing our planet.” Corporations are not inherently problematic and with companies like these stepping up, it is possible to change the face of corporate America.

	The Directory
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	Goods and services are offered by individuals who accept community currency. Person-to-person ads are $10 for up to 10 lines and $1 each additional line. First listing receives $85 in community currency, $35 for each subsequent listing.
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Alternatives are key. While keeping up on which business is operating to your standards can be nearly impossible, there are some very simple alternatives to staying aware. One of the easiest ways to trace the path of your dollar is to shop locally with community currency. The Community Currency directory defines it as, “a means of exchange that has a localized value. This structure keeps the wealth created by the exchange of goods and services within the local community.” One of the many benefits of the currency is that it stimulates ideas about worth and value apart from the financial realm. Buying locally helps insure that the products purchased come from trusted sources and that the money remains in the community. Following where one’s dollar goes can be difficult with companies like Pepsi and Coca-Cola that have hundreds of locations and hundreds of different products.

Staying aware of where your dollar is spent can be as vital as casting a vote. When you bring groceries home, it is important to be cognizant of which corporate families you’re housing in your refrigerator and cupboard.