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PETA called on British paint manufacturer Farrow & Ball to rename colors like “Au Lait.”
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The nonprofit organization criticized several color names on the grounds that they “normalize the exploitation of animals.”
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Farrow & Ball paints are not tested on animals and are mostly vegan.
The non-profit animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has called on a British paint manufacturer to rename some of its colors to make them more “vegan-friendly.”
The provocative organization sent an open letter to Farrow & Ball protesting against color names such as “Dead Salmon” and “Smoked Trout,” which they believe “normalize the exploitation of animals.”
Yvonne Taylor, PETA’s vice president of corporate projects, wrote that “renaming colors with the names of animal products would be a fun way to appeal to more conscious consumers.”
Founded in 1946, Farrow & Ball is known for its high-quality and largely sustainable paints and wallpapers.
Costing up to $160 a gallon, it was mocked by SNL for its status as a coveted product and described by the New Yorker in 2019 as “generating a new kind of decorating anxiety.”
It is also known for its striking and sometimes unusual color names.
These include “Arsenic” and “Churlish Green” – as well as a handful of names that refer to animals and animal products.
PETA was bothered by these.
“Au Lait” and “Skimmed Milk White,” the organization says, “normalize the exploitation of cows.”
In the meantime, it has been suggested that “Dead Salmon” – a pink taupe – be renamed “Magic Mushroom”.
PETA is notorious for making headlines with outlandish stunts – often targeting far more boisterous personalities than a quiet British paint manufacturer.
In 2023, its co-founder Ingrid Newkirk told Rolling Stone that she was considering sending Elon Musk a piece of her heart after she died, “because I don’t think he has one.”
A year earlier, the NGO called on Gordon Ramsay’s children to disown him after a video emerged of him selecting a goat for slaughter.
Farrow & Ball did not immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
According to the company’s website, the paints are environmentally friendly and cruelty-free; none of them are tested on animals.
Eight of the most commonly used varnishes are completely vegan, while two specialty varnishes use animal products such as leather scraps and a milk derivative.
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