Hypoallergenic
Hypoallergenic, meaning "below average" or "slightly" allergenic, is a term meaning that something (usually
The term is also commonly applied to pet breeds which are claimed to produce fewer allergens than other breeds of the same species, due to some combination of their coat type, absence of fur, or absence of a gene that produces a certain protein. All breeds still produce allergens and a 2011 study failed to find a difference in allergen concentrations in homes with dogs of "hypoallergenic breeds" and other breeds.[5]
Certifications and definitions
Some cosmetics are marketed as hypoallergenic to imply that their use is less likely to lead to an allergic reaction than other products.[6] However, the term hypoallergenic is not regulated,[7] and no research has been done showing that products labeled hypoallergenic are less problematic than any others. In 1975, the US Food and Drug Administration tried to regulate the term hypoallergenic, but the proposal was challenged by cosmetic companies Clinique and Almay in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.[8] In 1977, courts overruled the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's regulation of the use of the term hypoallergenic.[6] In 2019, the European Union released a document about claims made concerning cosmetics,[9] but this was issued as guidance, not a regulation.[10]
In some countries,[
Hypoallergenic pets
Most dogs, cats, rabbits, and other fur-bearing animals can cause an allergic reaction. The proteins that cause allergies (mainly Fel d 1 in cats and Can f 1 in dogs) are found not only in the animals' fur or hair but also in saliva, urine, mucous, and hair roots and in the dander sloughed from the animals' skin. Thus, the widespread idea that "hypoallergenic pets" are those that have less hair or shed less is a myth. Furthermore, there is no evidence that certain pet breeds are less likely to trigger allergic reactions than other pet breeds.[11][12] Despite that, because allergies are quite prevalent and a hypoallergenic pet would allow people with allergies to have a pet in their home, many breeds are marketed as hypoallergenic.[13]
Dog breeds which have been claimed to be hypoallergenic include
The
Some species of pets such as the
References
- ^ "CBC News: Marketplace – Microscope". Archived from the original on June 19, 2006.
- ^ "hypoallergenic". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary.
- ^ "'Hypoallergenic' And 'Fragrance-Free' Moisturizer Claims Are Often False". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- PMID 28877310.
- ^ "Hypoallergenic Dogs?". ACAAI Public Website. 2014-12-24. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
- ^ a b Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (1 September 2020). ""Hypoallergenic" Cosmetics". FDA.
- S2CID 41482522.
- ^ FDA page on hypoallergenic claim and US Court of Appeals
- ^ "Technical document on cosmetic claims". ec.europa.eu. European Commission. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ^ Kulliney K (6 September 2019). "EU 'free from' cosmetics claims technical document is guidance, not regulation: Expert". cosmeticsdesign-europe.com. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ^ "Hypoallergenic Dogs?". ACAAI Public Website. 2014-12-24. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
- ^ "Pet Allergy". American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
- PMID 22289723.
- ISBN 978-1-101-19899-5. Retrieved 2022-11-29.