Five out of ten sunscreens protect worse than promised

Five out of ten sunscreens with sun protection factor 50 do not have the high protection they claim, a Norwegian survey shows. Several of them are sunscreens for children and are sold in Sweden.

Of the five tested sunscreens that did not meet the standard, three were labeled “baby” or “kids,” according to the survey conducted by Mattillsynet, Norway’s equivalent to the Norwegian Food Agency and the country’s cosmetics control authority.

One sunscreen labeled SPF 50+ actually had a measured protection of 14, which means the allowable label would have been SPF 10. Two other sunscreens labeled SPF 50 had a protection of less than 20, and should have been labeled SPF 15.

“When the sunscreen does not provide the protection promised, consumers may experience a false sense of security and expose themselves to more sun than they otherwise would. The findings are therefore worrying,” says Rune Jemtland, senior adviser at the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s department for chemical food safety, in a press release.

The five sunscreens were voluntarily withdrawn from the Norwegian market. But they are still available to buy in Sweden. One of the products is also made in Sweden and is sold in pharmacies.

When asked whether they will take a closer look at the failed sunscreens in the survey, the Swedish Medicines Agency responds via email:

“Measures on the part of the Swedish Medical Products Agency cannot be ruled out at the present time,” writes Emma Västerlund, investigator at the Swedish Medical Products Agency.

In May 2024, the Swedish Medicines Agency conducted its own review of sunscreens. However, they did not analyze the content, but looked for possible deficiencies in labeling and documentation.

THE FACTS The sunscreens that didn’t measure up

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