

New questions in the sunscreen SPF saga
Jul 10, 2025
Rachel Carbonell, ABC National Health Equity reporter, dives into the controversial findings around sunscreen SPF claims. She reveals that many popular brands aren’t delivering on their promised protection, raising significant trust issues in the industry. Carbonell discusses the backlash against brands like Ultraviolet and the dubious testing practices of an overseas lab. She emphasizes the importance of accurate labeling and proper application, especially in Australia, where sun safety is critical due to high melanoma rates.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
SPF Test Results Controversy
- Choice tested 20 popular sunscreens and found 16 failed to meet their SPF label claims.
- Among these, some popular Cancer Council products and an expensive Ultraviolet product tested far below their claimed SPF.
Ultraviolet Sunscreen Defense
- Ultraviolet founder Ava Chandler Matthews disputed Choice's test results citing their own overseas lab tests showing SPF over 60.
- They retested in the same lab and still got consistent SPF results above 60.
Sunscreen SPF Testing Explained
- Sunscreen SPF testing uses 10 human volunteers exposed to UV with and without sunscreen.
- The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) oversees but does not conduct or audit these SPF lab tests.