Allied says reputable suppliers are key to prevent down-induced lung condition
26/11/2019
The company said: “Feather duvet lung disease is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis triggered by exposure to avian proteins present in the dust of the feathers of a variety of birds. While it is extremely rare that someone is so sensitive to bird protein, the condition has been around for a long time and is also known as bird fancier's lung, usually affecting people such as pigeon breeders.
“The fact that a 43-year-old, otherwise healthy, man was diagnosed with this condition due to his bedding actually creates a larger question that consumers are faced with at an increasing rate, and that is, how is a product that produces the amount of dust necessary to make someone sick allowed to be sold?”
It said the washing and separation processes down and feathers go through at Allied are neither easy nor quick, but some factories cut corners and provide less expensive material to manufacturers from questionable sources with unknown washing processes.
“One can more quickly wash down with harsh chemicals, but this leads to a brittle material that easily breaks up into fibres, and ultimately into the type of dust affecting those who are extremely sensitive to bird proteins,” it added.
Allied and The North Face helped to create the Responsible Down Standard in 2015, and the company undergoes checks at independent health and allergy laboratories.
Its president, Daniel Uretsky, added: "We are honoured that some in the industry have followed our lead to create a more sustainable, cruelty free, and transparent source for the finest natural insulation on earth, and we will continue to invest in educating and protecting consumers from fraudulent and irresponsible sourcing, and from potential allergens."
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