Sunscreen brand Ultra Violette is suing its manufacturer, Wild Child Laboratories, after its products were found to have an extremely low sun protection factor.
The lawsuit follows the recall of Ultra Violette’s SPF50+ sunscreen product, Lean Screen, last year.
Testing by consumer advocacy organisation Choice previously found that the product had an SPF of only four, much lower than the label claimed. The product, along with nearly 20 sunscreens from other brands, used the same base formula produced by Wild Child Laboratories.
Ultra Violette is seeking $7 million from Wild Child over the latter’s “misleading” and “deceptive” conduct.
The company alleges that Wild Child made six separate representations that its sunscreens had an SPF of 50 or 50+. However, Ultra Violette’s own tests later returned much lower results.
The manufacturer had already collapsed into voluntary administration early last month amid heavy debts. Documents showed the company was owing 11 sunscreen brands more than $19 million and the Australian Taxation Office more than $400,000.
A month before its liquidation, Wild Child sold its assets to Heliora, a new company that shared the same CEO and director, as well as the sunscreen manufacturing business.
Heliora previously rejected any suggestion that it was established as a means of avoiding Wild Child’s liabilities. Liquidators are now reviewing the transaction and its circumstances.
Wild Child is also being sued by Advanced Skin Technology, owner of Aspect Skincare, which recalled two products last year.
- Further reading: Aussie SPF brand Ultra Violette launches into Sephora US.
