The sunscreen safety crisis in Australia continues to worsen. Authorities have already removed 18 products from store shelves over safety concerns.
Popular sunscreens fail protection tests
In June, a consumer advocacy group revealed that several well-known sunscreens did not deliver the protection advertised. 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 different brands. All of them used the same base formula, which testing showed to be unreliable.
SPF results fall far below claims
Preliminary investigations revealed the formula rarely exceeded SPF 21. Some products provided as little as SPF 4. Of the 21 products named, eight were recalled or production halted. Ten remain suspended, while two are still under review. One product is manufactured in Australia but not sold domestically.
High skin cancer rates fuel public concern
Australia has the world’s highest skin cancer rate. Two in three Australians will require at least one cancerous skin removal in their lifetime. Strict sunscreen regulations reflect these risks. The scandal has sparked public outrage and raised international concern. Experts now question both manufacturing practices and SPF testing reliability.
Manufacturer halts production of base formula
Wild Child Laboratories Pty Ltd, the maker of the base formula, has stopped producing it. Chief executive Tom Curnow said regulators found no faults at its facility. He argued the discrepancies reflect a wider industry problem.
US laboratory under scrutiny
Regulators have long questioned the reliability of SPF testing. In their latest update, they raised serious concerns about Princeton Consumer Research Corp, a US-based lab. Many sunscreen brands relied on this lab to support SPF claims.
Mr Curnow confirmed Wild Child has ended ties with the US lab. He said the company now works with accredited independent testers. Regulators contacted all firms linked to the disputed formula or the lab. They also wrote to Princeton Consumer Research Corp but have not received a response.
