Sunscreen brand Invisible Zinc has found itself in hot water with the Therapeutic Goods Administration over claims made on its website.
The brand advertises its sunscreen, promoted by the likes of Elle Macpherson and Jerry Hall, as being free from the nano-particles zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which some scientific studies claim can pose health risks.
While these claims aren’t false, and the sunscreen is, in fact, nano-free”, the TGA argues that promoting the product as such suggests that sunscreens containing nano-particles are unsafe.
"The TGA carefully considered this matter under the advertising provisions in the Therapeutic Goods Act and has ordered the company to undertake a number of remedial actions,” a spokeswoman for the TGA said. These include withdrawal of the advertisement and any representations that other sunscreens may be harmful or ineffectual or contain ingredients that may be harmful or ineffectual.”
In a statement released today, Valeant Pahmaceuticals, the company that owns Invisible Zinc, said they were working closely with the TGA to address complaints relating to the advertising and promotional materials comparing it to other sunscreens. "The TGA has clearly stated that labelling of sunscreens as nanoparticle free is permitted," the statement reads. "The statement that Invisible Zinc sunscreens contain a micronized form of zinc (not - nano), is both true and correct, and product labelling will continue to include this claim."
