In March 2006, nine lawsuits were filed in California Superior Court in Los Angeles against makers of popular sunscreen brands Coppertone, Banana Boat, Hawaiian Tropic, Bullfrog and Neutrogena -- for allegedly advertising false and misleading claims about the effectiveness of their products, thereby impressing upon the consumers that they are safe from the dangers of prolonged sun exposure.
Plaintiffs' attorneys are seeking class-action status for suits against Johnson & Johnson Inc., Schering-Plough Corp., Playtex Products Inc., Tanning Research Laboratories Inc. and Chattem Inc.
The suits focus on labels that claim "waterproof," "all day," "UVA/UVB protection," and "sunblock" – marketing copies that are allegedly misleading. For one, the 1999 edition of FDA labeling rules have banned the use of "all day," "waterproof," saying they were unsupported and potentially misleading.
As such, the suits seek restitution of all money wrongfully acquired in violation of business and professions codes, unspecified damages for injuries suffered by plaintiffs, and punitive damages.
As much as most of us are ignorant about UVA and UVB rays, many sun lovers have no slightest idea what goes in the formulation of their favorite sunscreen lotion in tote.
Meanwhile, as the skin cancer rates we see today tell us, it shows that sunscreen products and its ilk are far from perfect. As far as I know, if the skin stings and turns red, its nature's ways of saying "cover up" or "seek the shade."
While we now doubt the sunscreen's ability to filter out UVA/UVB rays, we all wait for the lawsuit to progress and perhaps see its day basking in the 'payoff' sun.