Now that summer is here, there's controversy about truth in labeling for sun screens and sun block. The AP wrote about it saying:
"This spring, a San Diego-based law firm got pending lawsuits against makers of the top sunscreens — Coppertone, Neutrogena, Playtex Products' Banana Boat, Tanning Research Laboratories' Hawaiian Tropic and Chattem Inc.'s Bullfrog — consolidated into one case in Los Angeles.
Lead lawyer Samuel Rudman, who has called the makers "Fortune 500 snake oil salesmen," said manufacturers are fraudulent in their label claims.
"Our lawsuit doesn't say, 'Don't use sunscreen.' It says, 'Tell the truth.' If people knew, they would still use it," Rudman said."
Apparently there's concern that we haven't been given the whole truth. When the product says it offers broad UV protection (both UVA and UVB) the SPF or Sun Protection Factor number only applies to UVB. The more damaging and cancer causing UVA's SPF is not listed.
As a freckly red-head, I'm offended and concerned as should anyone else who thought they were protecting themselves or their kids from harmful rays. Apparently the FDA hasn't gotten it's act together to force manufacturers to disclose the facts about the effectiveness of the $10 a tube glop. Sure it still provides some protection, but probably not as much as most consumers had thought...which reminds me to remind everyone I can out there to go ahead and strip naked for your dermatologist to take a look-see. Sure it's a bit embarrassing, but it beats the pants off of having skin cancer.
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