German Consumer Tests Show Many Sunscreens and UV Shirts Fail to Deliver Promised Protection

The consumer magazine Öko‑Test examined 26 sunscreen products marketed with SPF 50 or higher. Only two creams earned the top rating, while 11 products were penalised for not meeting their declared SPF, with one case showing a discrepancy of more than 50 %. The test also detected traces of the banned plasticiser di‑n‑hexylphthalate (DnHexP) in five samples and noted the presence of the controversial UV filter octocrylene in two products.

A separate test by Austria’s Verein für Konsumenteninformation (VKI) evaluated 12 UV‑protective shirts for children. Only half of the garments lived up to the claimed UV‑protection factor of 50 +. A plain black T‑shirt performed as well as the best‑rated UV shirt, whereas a white T‑shirt offered almost no protection. VKI expert Birgit Schiller warned, “Es ist leider ein sehr gemischtes Bild,” and advised shoppers to buy protective clothing in stores where the material can be examined.

Both studies highlight the need for consumers to verify sun‑protection claims and to prefer products that have been independently tested.