Well folks, another one has bitten the dust: major Aussie brand Bondi Sands has become the latest to recall its sunscreen products over concerns about their effectiveness.
However, while other brands have discontinued sunscreens in the wake of CHOICE’s bombshell SPF report in June, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said the Bondi Sands recall was due to uneven textures and water separation.
“[The impacted products] may appear to have an uneven texture and visible water separating out of the product. If this happens, the ingredients are no longer properly mixed,” the TGA’s recall notice said.
While not specifically pulled over SPF doubts, the TGA said the Bondi Sands texture issue — which impacted five batches in two of its sunscreens — could affect the “overall performance of the sunscreens” and may lead to “inadequate sun protection”.
Bondi Sands denied the recall was the result of the CHOICE report, despite the consumer advocacy group finding its SPF 50+ Zinc Mineral Body Lotion had an actual SPF of 26.
“This recall is unrelated to those reports,” Bondi Sands said in a statement, per the ABC.
“We are recalling [the products] due to potential product separation … The safety and quality of our products are a top priority.”
Bondi Sands is the first brand to recall a sunscreen that did not use the problematic base formulation identified in CHOICE’s report.
That formula, made by Perth-based manufacturer Wild Child Laboratories, was found to have SPF levels as low as four, resulting in multiple brands — like Ultra Violette, MCoBeauty and Aspect Sun — recalling sunscreens that promised SPF50+ protection.
Other sunscreen brands containing the Wild Child base formula, like New Day Skin, Naked Glow and Ethical Zinc, are still under review by the TGA.
All of it stems from CHOICE’s June test, which found that only four out of 20 popular Aussie sunscreens actually met the SPF50 or SPF50+ claims on their bottles.
The consumer group stood by its “rigorous, independent sunscreen testing” when the results were refuted by brands like Ultra Violette. By July, the TGA had launched a review into whether Aussie brands needed to reformulate their sunscreen ingredients.
The TGA has stressed that all the recalls are not a sign to stop using sunscreen, saying all available products are still safe to use.
“The expert clinical advice remains that the benefits of all sunscreens available in Australia continue to far outweigh any risks,” the TGA said.
The recalled Bondi Sands products and batches are listed below. Those who purchased them are advised not to use them, and can return them to the place of purchase.
- Bondi Sands Zinc Mineral Broad Spectrum UVA & UVB Protection Sunscreen SPF 50+ Face Lotion 60ml (Batches GC032084 and 4843)
- Bondi Sands Zinc Mineral Broad Spectrum UVA & UVB Protection Sunscreen SPF 50+ Body Lotion 120ml (Batches GC032114, GC063314 and 4844)
Lead images: Getty Images and Bondi Sands/Instagram
The post Bondi Sands Issues Recall On Two Sunscreens Over ‘Inadequate’ Sun Protection Concerns appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
