Did you know that there are 74 million asthma and allergy sufferers in the United States? That means 1 in 5 Americans is affected. Do you make products that could, or should, be targeted to this savvy, economically powerful audience? The asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program was designed in partnership with the American Asthma and Allergy Foundation (AAFA) to assist consumers at point of sale. The distinctive mark tells shoppers that certified products have been tested to meet proven allergen avoidance criteria and are suitable for use by people with asthma and allergies. Importantly, the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program helps manufacturers ensure their products contribute to a healthy home environment and helps consumers identify those products quickly at retail. Dr. John McKeon is the CEO of Allergy Standards Ltd., the scientific organization that developed and maintains the international standards that are utilized for the asthma & allergy friendly®® Certification Program. As an ER physician, John frequently interacted with allergy sufferers and their families. He observed that allergy and asthma sufferers are inundated with information yet found it difficult to distill all the varying information about asthma and allergy triggers and to know what to believe in order to make the best purchase decisions for their families. John began his medical career in 1996 and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and also holds his United States Medical Licensing exams.
Dr.John McKeon
Feb.22nd webinar addresses the growing Allergen Avoidance market for textile products Join Dr. McKeon for an informative webinar entitled “A $10 Billion Market. How Can Your Products Get the Right Reaction?” on Wednesday, February 22 at 12:00 Noon EST. Dr. McKeon will discuss the growing consumer market for allergen avoidance textiles and the important role certified textiles can play in helping allergy and asthma sufferers improve their indoor environments, leading to better health and quality of life. According to the AAFA, allergic disease, including asthma, is the fifth leading chronic disease in the US. It is the third most common chronic disease in children under 18 years of age. About 50 million Americans suffer from allergies and 24 million from asthma or, it total, 1 in 5 Americans. These consumers spend $10B on non-medicinal products that claim to be good for people with allergic disease. Asthma and allergic reactions are caused by “trigger factors,” foreign substances that are inhaled or ingested or contact the skin. Reactions to these trigger allergens can range from coughing, sneezing, rashes, and hives to breathing trouble, asthma attacks, and even a life-threatening response called anaphylaxis. Consumers who suffer from allergic disease, or whose children suffer, are highly motivated to seek out trustworthy information about the products they buy for their families. Unfortunately, when it comes to products including textiles, many claims of “hypoallergenic”, a term that is not regulated, could be unsubstantiated and even misleading. Dr. John McKeon is the CEO of Allergy Standards Ltd., the scientific organization that developed and maintains the international standards that are utilized for the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program. As an ER physician, Dr. McKeon frequently interacted with allergy sufferers and their families. “Allergy and asthma sufferers are inundated with information,” he says. “While they want actionable strategies to reduce trigger factors in their homes, it’s often difficult for them to distill all that information and know what to believe in order to make the best purchase decisions for their families.” Allergy Standards designed the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program in partnership with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to assist these consumers at point of sale. The distinctive mark tells shoppers that certified products have been tested to meet proven allergen avoidance criteria and are more suitable for use by people with asthma and allergies. The Certification Program helps manufacturers verify that their products contribute to a healthy home environment and helps consumers identify those products quickly at retail.