HEALTH ALERT: OCU orders the withdrawal of well-known sun creams in Spain

The Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) and the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS), have ordered the removal of seven well-known sun creams from shelves in shops after a study showed that they don’t meet the protection levels advertised on their labels.

In total they tested fifteen popular products and almost half didn’t meet the recommendations for SPF or UVB, UVA, or both. Because of this, they have ordered the withdrawal of these creams from the market with immediate effect, which are predominantly used on children or people's faces.

The affected products include various batches of Rituals Invisible Sun Protection Face Cream SPS 50+, Vichy Capital Soleil Creme Onctueuse Protective SPF 50+ and Biotherm Waterlover Face Sunscreen SPF 50+. Although their packaging claim “very high” protection, analysis carried out by the OCU shows that they only offer “high” protection.

Additionally, several lots of Nivea Sun Sensitive Face Protection SPF 50, Lancaster Sun Sensitive Oil-Free Milky Fluid SPF 50, and Piz Buin Hydro Infusion Sun Gel Cream Face SPF 50 were identified. Although “high” protection was declared, the numerical sun protection results obtained do not coincide with the values ​​indicated on the label.

Some of the sun creams banned by the OCU and AEMPS after tests

The investigation was carried out by the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU), in collaboration with various entities of the ICRT (International Consumer Research and Testing), using a certified and independent specialised laboratory that applied the HDRS method (Hybrid Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy), through a series of combined measurements.