Australian regulators pulled more sunscreen brands from the shelves this week, widening concern about the products in a country which prizes beach-going and has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world.
The recalls were prompted by regulators finding that many sunscreens delivered protection far short of their advertised SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, a measure of how well a sunscreen guards against UV radiation.
It was particularly alarming in Australia, where there is a long history of promoting sun safety and many Australians rely heavily on sunscreen as a defense against skin cancer, which is widespread there.
The failure of multiple brands to deliver the protection they promised has shaken the trust of many consumers.
“Now I’m very wary about the brands that I use,” said Erin Williams, a veterinary nurse in Sydney, who said her father had melanoma, a dangerous type of skin cancer.
The regulatory body, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration, said on Tuesday that more than 20 sunscreens had been removed so far after tests showed they performed well below the claimed SPF of 50+. The agency linked the products to a base formulation made by a single manufacturer.
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The post Australia Expands Sunscreen Recalls Over False SPF Claims appeared first on New York Times.
