Suntan lotion manufacturers have defended themselves vigorously against claims that their products do not offer the protection they should.
The Consumers’ Association watchdog reportedly tested some 10 creams that claimed to offer factor 15 protection – and five sprays specifically for children – and found that half of them did not offer the protection they claimed.
Which? magazine, which conducted the survey, said it used the same tests as those used by the industry itself and, even allowing for a 20 per cent “margin of error” industry standard, some still failed the test.
According to the Daily Telegraph, manufacturers were quick to hit back at the findings; a spokesman for Boots is quoted as saying: “We understand they used a piece of equipment that we have found unreliable in the past. We have tested Soltan factor 15 and this confirmed the original test result of 15.”
A Superdrug spokesman added: “We immediately conducted further independent tests. The results of these tests confirm that our products meet their claimed factor levels and star rating results, clearly in contrast with those published by Which?”
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad
