Sun Screen or Sun Scam

by Sonya Lunder/Environmental Working Group - July 2, 2008.

As CNN reported, sunscreens over-promise and under-deliver. At Environmental Working Group, we analyzed product efficacy and possible health hazards for over 900 commercial sunscreens. We found that 85% of available products don't measure up: they either fail to block the full range of UV rays or they contain ingredients linked to health hazards. Only 1 of the 144 products from market leaders Coppertone, Banana Boat and Neutrogena is recommended by EWG.

Why is this the case? For starters, FDA has not finalized the comprehensive safety standards for sunscreen they began drafting 30 years ago. Instead, they have been delayed many times at the request of the sunscreen industry.

In the absence of a final rule, FDA requests that sunscreen companies comply with their draft guidance. Our analysis suggests that this voluntary system leaves consumers with products that do not meet the claims that are printed on the label, including more than 1 in 10 products marketed as 'broad spectrum' that aren’t, and 40% of products that make claims FDA considers misleading, like 'all day' or'“instant protection.'

In response to FDA's failure to set enforceable standards for sunscreen, citizens have filed nine class-action, false-advertising lawsuits in California; the Connecticut State Attorney General has petitioned the Agency to set standards; and six Senators have written the FDA urging the Agency to issue sunscreen regulations to protect the public from skin cancer.