Sunscreen Scandal In Australia, Dozens Of Brands Are Now Withdrawn

JAKARTA - Dozens of sunscreen brands were withdrawn from the Australian market after test results showed levels of protection well below label claims. This scandal has expanded since it first emerged in June 2024.

Australia's Drug Administration, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced that nearly 20 new sunscreen brands are now being withdrawn because they use the basic formula supplied by the Wind Child Laboratories.

The formula is used in various sunscreen products sold across the country. According to the TGA, preliminary tests showed significant differences between claim protection and real results in the field.

"The initial test shows that this basic formula is unlikely to have more than 21 SPFs," TGA said in a statement, quoted from the Independent.co.uk page.

Even though many of these products are marketed with SPF50+ claims. Some sunscreen products only provide SPF4 equivalent protection.

This case first surfaced whenChoice, a consumer advocacy agency, tested 20 popular sunscreens with an SPF50 label or higher. The results were surprising, 16 products did not match claims including large brands such as Bondi totaling, Banana Boat to products marketed by the Cancer Council.

The worst result came from Violette's Lean Screen SPF50+ Mattifying Zinc Sunscreen product which provided only SPF4 equivalent protection, far from the SPF50+ claim. Ultra Violette denied the result.

"We did an urgent SPF test in April and the results were 61.7, consistent with our initial testing," a company spokesman said while confirming there had been no reported evidence of consumers experiencing a solar shock due to its products.

They called Choice's findings inaccurate and possibly due to human error in testing.

"Although there is variability in testing, the difference between claims and real results seems very striking," said Choice's Director of Testing, Mattthew Steen.

Choice repeated tests with German laboratories on different batches and the results remained the same.

Of the 21 products reviewed by TGA, 8 products have been withdrawn or their production has been suspended, while the other 10 products have been suspended. Two products are still under investigation. Wild Child has stopped the production of the disputed basic formula.

"The production facilities were not found to be flawed, and blamed the existence of broad industrial problems, particularly testing by the ASPrinceton Consumer Research (PCR) Corp laboratory," said the company's CEO, Tom Curnow.

TGA also highlighted the PCR Corp testing method.

"Many sunscreen companies use this basic formula depending on the results of the PCR Corp test to support their SPF claims," TGA said.

Until now, the agency has contacted the laboratory, but has not received a reply.

Curnow added that his company has now stopped cooperating with PCR Corp and sent formulas to be tested in other recognized laboratories.

This case has caused great anxiety in Australia, the country with the highest level of skin cancer in the world. Two out of three residents are expected to undergo melanoma treatment or related conditions at least once in their life.

TGA emphasized that people who have purchased one of these problematic products should use other alternative sunscreens until the investigation is complete.

The head of the TGA, Ashley De Silva reminded the public to keep using sunscreen despite this scandal.

"It would be very unfortunate if people thought sunscreen was useless. Indeed, there is a big gap between the SPF score in the label and the test results, but the difference in effectiveness is actually very small," he said.

On the other hand, Choice emphasized the importance of transparency from sunscreen companies.

Consumers need certainty that their favorite products are really tested with a strong method, especially with serious questions about PCR. " said the agency.

This case is also expected to have a global impact, as many of the products involved are also marketed abroad with the same testing standards.