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Consumers Getting Burned by Dubious Sunscreen Claims, Advocacy Group Finds

Consumer advocacy group Choice tested 20 sunscreens and found only four met their SPF 50 claims.
Consumers Getting Burned by Dubious Sunscreen Claims, Advocacy Group Finds
A sunbather applies sunscreen onto another in this file photo. Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images
Rex Widerstrom
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Many sunscreens marketed to the public as SPF 50 or even SPF 50+ do not offer that level of protection from skin damage caused by ultraviolet rays that their labels claim, testing by the consumer advocacy group Choice has found.

Most people don’t understand how a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is calculated, but know that a higher number is better, so a claim of SPF 50 or more is likely to sell more sunscreen.

Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
Author
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.