{"id":23021,"date":"2026-09-11T15:54:41","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T15:54:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=23021"},"modified":"2026-09-11T15:54:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T15:54:41","slug":"an-australian-spf50-sunscreen-tested-as-low-as-spf-4-after-20-products-were-recalled-its-formula-maker-now-faces-multimillion-dollar-lawsuits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=23021","title":{"rendered":"An Australian SPF50+ sunscreen tested as low as SPF 4; after 20 products were recalled, its formula maker now faces multimillion-dollar lawsuits"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-134063920,imgsize-29138,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an-spf-of-just-four.jpg\" alt=\"An Australian SPF50+ sunscreen tested as low as SPF 4; after 20 products were recalled, its formula maker now faces multimillion-dollar lawsuits\" title=\"One of the products involved was Ultra Violette\u2019s Lean Screen SPF50+, which Choice testing found had an SPF of just four.\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"One of the products involved was Ultra Violette\u2019s Lean Screen SPF50+, which Choice testing found had an SPF of just four.\">One of the products involved was Ultra Violette\u2019s Lean Screen SPF50+, which Choice testing found had an SPF of just four.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A sunscreen manufacturer whose base formula was used in 20 products recalled in Australia after they failed to meet their advertised SPF claims is facing multimillion-dollar legal claims.<!-- --> Wild Child Laboratories is being sued in the Federal Court over allegations of misleading and deceptive conduct.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"3\"\/>The issue came to light last year after an ABC news Australia investigation and testing by consumer group Choice led to a series of sunscreen recalls. One of the products involved was Ultra Violette\u2019s Lean Screen SPF50+, which Choice testing found had an SPF of just four.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"5\"\/>Ultra Violette is now seeking millions of dollars from Wild Child Laboratories. <!-- -->The company alleges that Wild Child made several representations that its sunscreen had an SPF of 50 or 50+, but tests it commissioned later returned much lower results.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"10\"\/>The legal action has become more complicated because Wild Child Laboratories went into voluntary liquidation in August. The company had sold its assets to a newly established business called Heliora about a month earlier. Heliora continued the sunscreen manufacturing business and had the same CEO and director involved.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"13\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Tests found shocking SPF levels<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"15\"\/>According to Ultra Violette\u2019s statement of claim, the company commissioned SPF testing between July and September 2025. Seven test results from four laboratories returned average SPF ratings of 2.9, 3.0, 3.6, 4.1, 10.5, 21.5 and 25.18.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"17\"\/>The claim also referred to another test commissioned by Wild Child Laboratories, which returned an SPF result of 21.7.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"19\"\/>Ultra Violette has accused Wild Child of misleading and deceptive conduct and breach of contract. <!-- -->The company is listed in the liquidator\u2019s creditor report as being owed $7 million.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"23\"\/>Wild Child has disputed liability. In its defence filed in July, the company argued that Ultra Violette, as the sponsor of the therapeutic product, was responsible for ensuring the sunscreen met its label claim.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"25\"\/>\u201cUltra Violette undertook responsibility for meeting all the legal obligations required of a sponsor of therapeutic goods in Australia in relation to the Lean Screen SPF50+ sunscreen,\u201d the defence said, as quoted by ABC.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"28\"\/>Wild Child also argued that the companies it hired to carry out SPF testing were \u201cconcurrent wrongdoers\u201d. One of those companies was Princeton Consumer Research, or PCR, whose SPF testing data had been questioned.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"30\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"32\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>20 recalled sunscreens shared the formula<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"34\"\/>The Ultra Violette product was among 20 sunscreens made using the same Wild Child base formulation that were recalled after low SPF test results.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"36\"\/>The Therapeutic Goods Administration said at the time that preliminary testing indicated the base formulation was unlikely to have an SPF higher than 21, while some products could have an SPF as low as four. <!-- -->Wild Child has since discontinued the formula used in the recalled products.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"40\"\/>Another company taking legal action is Advanced Skin Technology, the owner of Aspect Skincare. It recalled two sunscreens last year and has alleged that Wild Child failed to take reasonable care in developing, manufacturing and supplying the products and in ensuring they were SPF50+.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"42\"\/>The company is seeking losses including refunds, credits, write-offs, lost sales and profits, staff time spent on the recall and reputational damage. <!-- -->It has not specified the amount of damages it is seeking, although the liquidator\u2019s report lists almost $2.5 million in debts owed to the brand. Wild Child indicated in a defence filed in April that it would defend the action.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"46\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Wild Child creditors claim about $20 million<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"48\"\/>The legal claims come as Wild Child\u2019s liquidation leaves a number of creditors seeking payment. Documents filed as part of the liquidation show that 11 sunscreen companies are claiming more than $19 million in total.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"51\"\/>The Australian Taxation Office is also owed more than $400,000. Prominent Australian sunscreen brand Naked Sundays is listed in the liquidator\u2019s report as being owed $8.2 million.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"53\"\/>The liquidation has also raised questions about the transfer of Wild Child\u2019s business to Heliora. Wild Child sold its assets to the new company in the month before entering liquidation. Heliora shared the same CEO and director and continued the manufacturing business.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"56\"\/>Heliora said it \u201cfirmly rejects any suggestion that it was established as a means of avoiding Wild Child\u2019s liabilities\u201d. \u201cThe liquidators have not raised concerns with us about the transaction,\u201d the company said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"58\"\/>Heliora said the purchase was negotiated with the involvement of a secured lender to Wild Child and a restructuring advisory firm. It also said the new company had assumed agreed liabilities involving many Wild Child suppliers and creditors.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"62\"\/>\u201cAll Wild Child employees were offered employment with Heliora, and their employee entitlements carried forward,\u201d Heliora said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"64\"\/>The company has also continued the manufacturing business under Wild Child\u2019s TGA manufacturing licence. Heliora said it had submitted the required documents to the TGA to support the transfer of the Good Manufacturing Practice licence.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"66\"\/>SPF, or sun protection factor, refers to protection against UVB radiation. According to the Cancer Council information included in the ABC report, SPF20 filters about 95 per cent of UVB rays, while SPF50 filters about 98 per cent.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/world\/rest-of-world\/an-australian-spf50-sunscreen-tested-as-low-as-spf-4-after-20-products-were-recalled-its-formula-maker-now-faces-multimillion-dollar-lawsuits\/articleshow\/134062500.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the products involved was Ultra Violette\u2019s Lean Screen SPF50+, which Choice testing found had an SPF of just four. A sunscreen manufacturer whose base formula was used in 20 products recalled in Australia after they failed to meet their advertised SPF claims is facing multimillion-dollar legal claims. Wild Child Laboratories is being sued [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23022,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an-150x150.avif","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an-300x169.avif","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an.avif","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an.avif","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an.avif","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an.avif","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an.avif","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an.avif","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an.avif","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an.avif","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an.avif","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an.avif","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an.avif","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an.avif"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"One of the products involved was Ultra Violette\u2019s Lean Screen SPF50+, which Choice testing found had an SPF of just four. A sunscreen manufacturer whose base formula was used in 20 products recalled in Australia after they failed to meet their advertised SPF claims is facing multimillion-dollar legal claims. Wild Child Laboratories is being sued [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":1,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":5,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an.avif",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an-300x169.avif",300,169,true],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/one-of-the-products-involved-was-ultra-violettes-lean-screen-spf50-which-choice-testing-found-had-an-150x150.avif",150,150,true]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23021","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23021"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23021\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23022"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23021"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}