Sunscreen brand Ultra Violette has pulled its Lean Screen product from shelves after controversy over SPF safety testing.
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While the company said additional testing reinforced its confidence in the rest of its product range, the Lean Screen returned inconsistent results.
"Given this pattern of inconsistency in testing, we have decided to withdraw Lean/Velvet Screen from the market, effective immediately," they said on August 22.
The company said multiple independent labs conducted testing after a bombshell report by consumer advocacy group Choice in June.
Lean Screen returned the SPF data of 4, 10, 21, 26, 33, 60, 61 and 64, across eight tests, Ultra Voilette said.
"That wasn't good enough for us, and it isn't good enough for you," the company's co-founders said.
"We are deeply sorry that one of our products has fallen short of the standards we pride ourselves on and that you have come to expect of us."
The Choice report found most brands did not offer the sun protection listed on labels, a finding many brands disputed at the time.
Choice CEO Ashley de Silva said the decision to pull the product was a confirmation of a "clear problem" in how sunscreen was regulated and tested in Australia.
"When we released our sunscreen test results earlier this year, we did so in the interest of the public," Ms de Silva said.
"Without CHOICE's investigation, Ultra Violette's Lean Screen would still be on shelves, despite the fact that it does not provide anywhere near the amount of sun protection it claims to."
She said Choice was calling for the Therapeutic Goods Administration to provide an update on their investigations following the June report.
"Ultra Violette's product may not be the only product that is affected and consumers deserve to know whether they can continue to trust SPF claims."
"In a country where two in three people will be diagnosed with skin cancer, people deserve to trust that the SPF ratings on sunscreen are accurate and reliable."
Ultra Violette said a refund and a product voucher are available for those who purchased the product, regardless of where it was purchased. Customers could submit a refund claim here.
The company said Lean Screen was made by a third-party manufacturer, which does not supply any other products, and they would no longer use them.
Ayden Dawkins
Ayden is the digital editor for ACM's Victorian mastheads.
Do you have a story that should be told? Email him at ayden.dawkins@acm.media
