It's one of Australia's most trusted sunscreen brands but Cancer Council's three products failed the SPF50 tests in CHOICE's explosive report. Now they finally respond
One of Australia's most trusted sunscreen brands has been thrust into the spotlight after three of its products failed to meet the strict SPF 50+ regulations in a bombshell investigation by consumer watchdog CHOICE.
Cancer Council was among the big brands named in the controversial experiment after consumer experts put 20 popular sunscreens to the test to see if they matched their SPF 50 claims on their labels.
Interestingly, Cancer Council Kids Sunscreen SPF 50+ was one of just four sunscreens that lived up to their lofty claims - passing the test with a reported SPF of 52.
But in a worrying finding that has shocked Australians, 16 out of 20 sunscreens failed to provide the level of protection claimed on their packaging.
Cancer Council's Everyday Value Sunscreen 50 tested at SPF 27, Ultra Sunscreen 50+ tested at SPF 24 and Kids Clear Zinc 50+ tested at SPF 33.
The bombshell revelation has sparked outrage, with many consumers now questioning whether their favourite sunscreens are truly safe to use.
A Cancer Council spokesperson said their products complied with their SPF claims but confirmed all four sunscreens named in the CHOICE report have been sent for urgent re-testing at an independent laboratory.
'Cancer Council is committed to providing high-quality, reliable sunscreen and takes SPF testing standards extremely seriously,' a Cancer Council spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
'Whilst we are concerned by CHOICE's findings, we can confirm that we hold SPF test results from our product sponsor for each of the product's CHOICE has tested, all of which show compliance with their labelled SPF rating.'
Interestingly, Cancer Council Kids Sunscreen SPF 50+ was one of just four sunscreens that lived up to their lofty claims - passing the test with a reported SPF of 52
According to Cancer Council, SPF testing is conducted on human skin and can yield 'variable results' between labs, even when the same standards are followed.
'However, all sunscreens sold in Australia must comply with strict requirements set by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), including holding SPF test reports produced from tests conducted in line with TGA-prescribed methods,' the spokesperson said.
'Noting the test results published by CHOICE and out of an abundance of caution, we have submitted the four referenced products for further testing by an independent international laboratory. All necessary actions to any findings will be implemented.'
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, with two in three Australians diagnosed in their lifetime.
'It is vital that consumers can have confidence in the sun protection factor (SPF) of their sunscreen, which is one of the five essential forms of sun protection,' the Cancer Council spokesperson added.
Earlier this week, CHOICE published an explosive report that found 16 of 20 sunscreens tested in Australia failed to meet the SPF protection claims on their labels, including Cancer Council, Neutrogena, Bondi Sands, Coles and Woolworths.
Ultra Violette's Lean Screen, which retails for $52, was found to be the worst-performing sunscreen out of the 20 tested after returning an SPF result of just 4.
The consumer group was 'so perturbed' by the results of its extraordinary first experiment that it conducted a second test at an independent lab in Germany.
'Those results came back with a reported SPF of 5, almost identical to our initial test,' the experts claimed.
In an explosive investigation by CHOICE, 20 of the most popular sunscreens on Aussie shelves were put to the test - 16 failed to meet their lofty SPF 50+ claims on their packaging
Following CHOICE's report, Ultra Violette disputed the claims, saying: 'Given our commitment to producing the highest quality sunscreens for consumers, we do not accept these results as even remotely accurate.
'Lean Screen contains 22.75 per cent zinc oxide, a level at which, when applied sufficiently, would render a testing result of SPF 4 scientifically impossible.'
The brand said Lean Screen, like all UV formulas, are made by reputable, TGA-licensed manufacturers and tested to meet the strictest global SPF standards.
'To ensure complete transparency and peace of mind for our customers, when we were first alerted to CHOICE's testing, we immediately initiated another 10 person test on the batch in question at an independent lab,' an Ultra Violette spokesperson said.
'We proactively initiated another urgent SPF test of the batch in question in April this year (2025). We retested our product and the results have come back at 61.7, which is above the threshold required by the TGA to make a 50+ claim.
'CHOICE's recent retest only included five participants, where two results were considered non validated, resulting in a sample size of only three.
'Over the past four years, we have conducted three different tests at independent labs vs. Choice's 1.3 tests.'
While the majority of sunscreen tested in the report did not meet their claimed SPF, CHOICE experts stated that 'any sunscreen is better than none'.
'If you are using one of these sunscreens in our testing, you should continue to do so. Don't throw out what you have, just be sure to apply it regularly and extensively,' CHOICE said.
The surprising results of the 20 popular sunscreens tested
Australian consumer watchdog CHOICE has tested 20 popular sunscreens, with 16 failing to meet the SPF50 protection claims on their labels.
Of the 20 sunscreens tested, only four passed the SPF test:
Cancer Council Kids Sunscreen SPF 50+ passed with a reported SPF of 52
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Wet Skin Sunscreen 50+ passed with a reported SPF of 72
Mecca Cosmetica To Save Body SPF 50+ Hydrating Sunscreen passed with a reported SPF of 51
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Lotion SPF 50 passed with a reported SPF of 56
Sunscreens that failed the SPF test:
SPF results in the 10s
Ultra Violette Lean Screen SPF 50+ Mattifying Zinc Skinscreen - tested at 4
SPF results in the 20s
Aldi Ombra 50+ ¿ tested at 26
Banana Boat Baby Zinc Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ ¿ tested at 28
Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Zinc Mineral Body Lotion ¿ tested at 26
Cancer Council Everyday Value Sunscreen 50 ¿ tested at 27
Cancer Council Ultra Sunscreen 50+ ¿ tested at 24
Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry-Touch Lotion SPF 50 ¿ tested at 24
Woolworths Sunscreen Everyday Tube SPF 50+ ¿ tested at 27
SPF results in the 30s
Banana Boat Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ ¿ tested at 35
Bondi Sands SPF 50+ Fragrance Free Sunscreen ¿ tested at 32
Cancer Council Kids Clear Zinc 50+ ¿ tested at 33
Invisible Zinc Face + Body Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 ¿ tested at 38
SPF results in the 40s
Coles SPF 50+ Sunscreen Ultra Tube ¿ tested at 43
Nivea Sun Kids Ultra Protect and Play Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ ¿ tested at 41
Nivea Sun Protect and Moisture Lock SPF 50+ Sunscreen ¿ tested at 40
Sun Bum Premium Moisturising Sunscreen Lotion 50+ ¿ tested at 40
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