More sunscreens fail to meet SPF standards on their labels, Consumer NZ says

Wednesday, 30 January 2019

More sunscreens have failed to meet the sun protection claims on their labels, Consumer NZ says.

Following outrage over some Cancer Society sunscreens earlier this year, 10-person tests by the consumer watchdog have found five further sunscreens with a lower SPF (sun protection factor) than advertised.

Eco Tan Natural Coconut Sunscreen Untinted SPF30 only gave SPF12 in the test, Skinnies Kids Barefoot Babe SPF50 had an SPF of 25, and three more products – We Are Feel Good Inc. Sunscreen Lotion SPF50+, Le Tan Coconut Lotion SPF50+ and Cancer Society Kids Pure Low Irritant Sun Lotion SPF50+ – provided high protection, 'but not the very high protection they claim'.

Consumer NZ chief executive Sue Chetwin said the 'disappointing' results followed an initial batch of testing where six out of 10 sunscreens failed to live up to their SPF claims.

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The response from some manufacturers has been 'alarming', Chetwin added.

'Given the discrepancies we found, we'd expect manufacturers to immediately carry out a 10-person test of their products and review their testing programmes, rather than attack the messenger.'

She said the test was carried out according to Australian and New Zealand standards and any attempts by manufacturers to dismiss criticism was 'irresponsible and unsubstantiated'.

More sunscreens have failed testing by Consumer NZ to see whether their SPF ratings match what they claim.

Skinnies went to market with its Kids Barefoot Babe sunscreen after getting a valid test result for just one person.

'It then found the SPF was degrading and had to reformulate,' Chetwin said.

Skinnies is now retesting the reformulated sunscreen. Preliminary results showed the new product is likely to meet its SPF50 claim, Consumer NZ advised.

The three sunscreens with higher protection still fell short of their SPF50+ claims with a SPF ranging from 41 to 45.

Two of them, Le Tan and We Are Feel Good Inc, provided lab reports showing their products had been tested on 10 subjects and met their label claims before being put on the market.

The Cancer Society based the SPF claim for its Kids Pure Low Irritant Sun Lotion SPF50+ on a technical report concerning a 10-person test of a formula with different preservatives.

Consumer NZ warns sun seekers not to believe everything they read when using sunblock.

The technical report only included a three-person test of the sunscreen Consumer NZ tested.

As a result of Consumer NZ's findings, the Cancer Society sent the sunscreen to a US lab for testing.

Preliminary results showed it is likely the sunscreen will meet its SPF50+ label claims, but Consumer NZ says the company still hasn't provided a full 10-subject test.

The companies have been approached for comment.

Consumer NZ is testing four more sunscreens and results will be online at consumer.org.nz as soon as they are available.