THE WHAT? Australian sunscreen manufacturer Wild Child Laboratories is being sued by Ultra Violette over allegations of misleading and deceptive conduct following the recall of sunscreens that failed to meet their stated SPF protection.
THE DETAILS Ultra Violette is seeking millions of dollars in damages after its Lean Screen SPF50+ was recalled following testing by consumer group Choice that reportedly returned an SPF of four. Wild Child manufactured the base formula used in the product and 19 other sunscreens subsequently recalled over low SPF test results. The manufacturer entered voluntary liquidation in August, leaving creditors, including sunscreen brands and the Australian Taxation Office, claiming debts of around A$20 million. Before the liquidation, Wild Child sold its assets to Heliora, a new company sharing the same CEO and director and which continues to manufacture sunscreens. Heliora has rejected suggestions that it was established to avoid Wild Child’s liabilities.
THE WHY? The dispute raises questions around manufacturer accountability, SPF testing and the commercial risks faced by brands relying on third-party sunscreen formulations, particularly when a single base formula is used across multiple products and brands
Source: ABC News
