Banana Boat disgrace as 50+ sunscreens fail new lab tests
<p><span>A new lab test has found that seven Banana Boat sunscreens have failed to meet the advertised SPF 50+ claims.</span></p>
<p><span>The tests were conducted by Eurofins Dermatest according to international standards and each sunscreen spray was tested 10 times. The results of the tests could lead to a potential filing of a class action lawsuit by an Australian mother and her five children.</span></p>
<p><span>Bannister Law is taking registrations against Edgewell Personal Care Australia, the manufacturer of Banana Boat, after laboratory tests found its sunscreen sprays average ratings were SPF20 or less instead of the advertised SPF50+.</span></p>
<p><span>"All seven aerosol varieties we tested fell well short of the marketed SPF 50+," said Charles Bannister, founder and principle of Bannister Law.</span></p>
<p><span>"To claim SPF 50+, products need to test greater that 60+."</span></p>
<p><span>The best performing sunscreen, Banana Boat Kids Clear Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+, achieved an average SPF rating of 20.2. The worst performing sunscreen, Banana Boat SunComfort Clear Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+, achieved an SPF rating of 10.7</span></p>
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<p><span>Leading the class action is a mother and her five children who claim to have been repeatedly burned despite using Banana Boat products, Ultra Clear Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+ and Kids Clear Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+.</span></p>
<p><span>All of her five children are believed to be under the age of 10.</span></p>
<p><span>Edgewell Personal Care rejected the test results and described them as “anomalous”.</span></p>
<p><span>"All Banana Boat products meet the SPF claim as labelled on the pack," a company spokesperson tells CHOICE.</span></p>
<p><span>"These results are entirely inconsistent with the testing we have conducted at Edgewell's reputable labs, in accordance with the Australian mandatory standard as regulated by the TGA."</span></p>
<p><span>The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the Department of Health body responsible for regulating sunscreens, said in May they started investigating aerosol sunscreen following public concerns.</span></p>
<p><span>"TGA undertook preliminary testing to investigate their delivery rates," a spokesperson tells us. "We found the amount of sunscreen delivered per second differed between brands.</span></p>
<p><span>"It is important consumers ... 'apply liberally' to ensure proper coverage of the sunscreen."</span></p>
<p><span>The class action lawsuit is in early stages, but Charles Bannister said it will most likely go ahead.</span></p>
<p><span>"I don't see any reason why this class action won't proceed," he told CHOICE. "I would encourage the makers of Banana Boat to resolve any issues."</span></p>
<p><span>Sunscreen SPF claims and regulation were called into question last summer as photos of people who were burned despite applying sunscreen went viral.</span></p>
<p><span>Since 2015, the category has come under scrutiny after a CHOICE investigation found four out of six sunscreens did not meet advertised SPF 50+ claims. </span></p>
<p><span>Do you own or have you used any of these Banana Boat products and still suffered from sunburn? Tell us in the comments below. </span></p>
