Sunscreen scandal in Australia sees products pulled from shelves
A ‘sunscreen scandal’ as the BBC called it, in Australia has resulted in 18 products taken down from shelves over safety concerns. A consumer advocacy group found that multiple popular and expensive sunscreen products did not offer the protection that their manufacturers claimed.
One product, Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen Skinscreen, claims to offer a skin protection factor (SPF) of 50+. It only returned a result of SPF 4 and has been voluntarily recalled. An investigation from the medicines regulator has warned against 20 more sunscreens from other brands, sharing the same base formula. These products raise “significant concerns” regarding a testing laboratory.
“The preliminary testing indicates that this base formulation is unlikely to have an SPF greater than 21,” the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said. For some products, the SPF rating could be as low as four.
Of the 21 it named, eight were recalled or saw their production stop entirely. Another 10 have seen their sale paused while two more are under review. One product it named is made in Australia but not sold there.
Australia sees the highest rates of skin cancer of any country. Two in three people there will have at least one cut out in their lifetimes. As a result, its sunscreen regulations are among the strictest. The sunscreen scandal has resulted in a backlash from customers. Experts warn this could have global implications.
Stay tuned to EyeOnLondon for the latest news and expert opinions.
Follow us on:
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest videos and updates!
We value your thoughts! Share your feedback and help us make EyeOnLondon even better!
