The sunscreen scandal in Australia is intensifying. Authorities have already withdrawn 18 products from store shelves over safety concerns.
Popular products under fire
In June, a consumer advocacy group revealed that several well-known sunscreens failed to provide the protection they promised. Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen Skinscreen claimed SPF 50+ but tested at only SPF 4. The company recalled it voluntarily in August.
The medicines regulator has since flagged 20 more sunscreens from various brands. All of them used the same base formula, which performed poorly during testing.
Testing exposes low SPF levels
Investigations showed the base formula rarely provided more than SPF 21. Some results dropped to as low as SPF 4. Of the 21 products named, eight were recalled or halted. Ten others remain suspended, while two are still under review. One of the listed sunscreens is made in Australia but not sold locally.
Cancer risk fuels national anger
Australia records the highest skin cancer rate in the world. Two in three Australians will undergo at least one skin cancer removal in their lifetime. This explains the country’s strict sunscreen rules. The scandal has sparked public outrage and raised international concerns. Experts now warn of failures in both manufacturing and SPF testing systems.
Manufacturer suspends base formula
Wild Child Laboratories Pty Ltd, which made the base formula, has stopped its production. Chief executive Tom Curnow said regulators found no faults at its facility. He insisted that the discrepancies point to a wider industry issue.
US laboratory faces investigation
Regulators have long questioned the reliability of SPF testing methods. In their latest update, they raised serious concerns about Princeton Consumer Research Corp, a US-based laboratory. Many sunscreen brands relied on its tests to back their SPF claims.
Mr Curnow confirmed Wild Child ended its ties with the US lab. He said the company now works with accredited, independent testers. Regulators contacted every firm connected to the disputed formula or the laboratory. They also wrote to Princeton Consumer Research Corp but received no response.
