October 2025 UPDATE — Australia’s sunscreen scandal continues to deepen as nearly 20 additional brands have been pulled from shelves following test results showing that they failed to meet their advertised SPF protection levels.
What’s Happening
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has identified serious concerns with a standard base formula supplied by Wild Child Laboratories that was used in dozens of sunscreens sold across Australia. Preliminary testing has revealed that some products claiming SPF 50+ protection were actually providing as little as SPF 4 — a disturbing gap that has left consumers and health experts alarmed.
The TGA stated that the controversial base formulation is “unlikely to have an SPF greater than 21,” despite being marketed as SPF50+.
How It Started
The controversy first erupted in June 2025 when the consumer advocacy group Choice tested 20 popular sunscreens with SPF 50 or higher and found that 16 of them fell significantly short of their protection claims. Major brands, including Bondi Sands, Banana Boat, and even Cancer Council products, were among those that failed to meet their advertised SPF levels.
The worst performer was Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen SPF50+ Mattifying Zinc Sunscreen, which tested at just SPF 4, despite its SPF 50+ label. Ultra Violette disputed these findings, claiming their own testing showed an SPF of 61.7. However, Choice repeated their tests with a German laboratory and obtained nearly identical results.
Current Status
Of the 21 products identified in the TGA’s latest review:
8 have been recalled or have ceased manufacturing
10 have had their sales suspended
2 remain under investigation
Wild Child Laboratories has halted production of the problematic base formula. The company’s CEO, Tom Curnow, has pointed to “industry-wide issues,” particularly with testing conducted by Princeton Consumer Research Corp (PCR Corp), which many companies relied on for their SPF verification.
The TGA has raised significant concerns about PCR Corp’s testing methodology and has tried to contact the lab, but hasn’t received a response. Wild Child has since stopped working with PCR Corp and switched to other accredited labs.
The Story Reaches International Attention
The controversy has now gained international attention, with The New York Times publishing coverage of the Australian recalls in early October 2025. The story has raised questions about sunscreen testing practices beyond Australia’s borders, as many of the implicated products are sold internationally.
The Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) also covered the expanding recalls on air earlier this week, highlighting how the situation has gradually damaged consumer confidence in Australian sunscreen makers over recent months. The coverage emphasized concerns about the lack of direct regulation of laboratories that test sunscreens’ SPF levels.
Dr. Steven Wang, a skin cancer expert and dermatologist in California, told the Times that the Australian recalls shouldn’t immediately alarm US consumers. He noted that the Food and Drug Administration regulates sunscreens more stringently as an over-the-counter drug, providing an additional layer of oversight not present in all markets.
Why This Matters
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world — two out of three Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer during their lifetime. The country enforces some of the strictest sunscreen regulations globally, making this scandal particularly significant.
The TGA has advised consumers who purchased any of the identified sunscreens to “consider using an alternative product” until their review is complete.
What’s Next
The TGA has indicated plans to overhaul SPF testing protocols, acknowledging they can be “highly subjective.” Choice is calling on sunscreen companies to publicly confirm which labs verified their latest SPF results, saying consumers deserve reassurance that products are “backed by strong testing practices.”
The lack of direct regulation of SPF testing laboratories has become a key concern, with calls for greater oversight of the labs that verify sunscreen manufacturers’ claims.
Despite the scandal, health officials emphasize that sunscreen remains crucial for sun protection. TGA chief Ashley De Silva noted that even products with lower SPF ratings are still effective, and it would be “a real shame if people decided sunscreen was not useful.”