Cansa withdraws smart choice seal from two sunscreens

The Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) has announced the withdrawal of its smart choice seal from the Kool-a-Chem range of sunscreens currently carrying the Cansa trademark, as of November 2023.

Cansa said this was due to non-compliance and contravention of the licence agreement, following random laboratory tests carried out by the association.

“As part of our good governance and risk management, we test products that carry the smart choice trademark from time to time, to ensure that compliance is still being adhered to post any agreements entered with third parties.

“Recently, we conducted tests on the Kool-a-Chem SPF 40 and Reef Safe SPF 50 sunscreens and found the results to be concerning,” said Professor Michael Herbst, health specialist at Cansa.

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The association explained that results indicated that there was diminished antimicrobial effectiveness and a high count of mould, which are below standard, non-compliant and pose a quality risk.

Based on these outcomes, Cansa elected to withdraw the seal.

Before the withdrawal, Cansa invited Kool-a-Chem to produce tests to prove to the satisfaction of the association that the questioned products complied with the agreed standards. However, Kool-a-Chem failed to do so.

Additionally, Kool-a-Chem subcontracted the seal to several suppliers. Sub-contracting the seal violated the agreement with Kool-a-Chem.

Herbst added, “We engaged with the manufacturer to inform them that we are withdrawing the seal and cancelling our agreement and that they need to withdraw all those products from the market.”

Cansa is also requesting anyone who is using the seal under a subcontract with Kool-a-Chem to forthwith desist from doing so.

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“As part of its responsibility to the public and to maintain trust, Cansa ensures that all products are granted the Cansa seal only once all requirements are met.

This includes testing at an independent laboratory, which complies with the national standards or similar international standards, as well as the stringent evidence-based requirements for each category as set out by Cansa,” said head of marketing, Lucy Balona.

Adding that sunscreens bearing the Cansa seal must be free of all recognised toxins, hormones, and/or endocrine-disrupting agents.

Sunscreen must have a broad spectrum (UVA and UVB), have a sun protection factor of at least 20, meet all government regulatory requirements, and be dermatologically tested for product irritancy.

“Our priority remains educating consumers when it comes to lowering cancer risk and ensuring the best possible protection.

“Furthermore, we remind the public about sun smart measures such as using an approved sunscreen with a minimum SPF 20 or above and according to skin type and reapplying often, avoiding direct sunlight between 10:00 and 16:00 and staying in the shade.”

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The Bedfordview and Edenvale News reached out to Kool-a-Chem for comment and this is what the operations manager, Lorraine Young, had to say:

“Both products (Kool-a-Sun SPF40 Sunscreen and ReefSafe SPF50) have an addition of a fermented soya paste acting as a skin biome probiotic and we consider this procedure proprietary knowledge and gives our products a competitive edge.

“This skin probiotic or similar composition is commonly found as a food condiment in many stores and is clearly regarded as safe for human consumption, so its use as a topical skin application should raise zero concern.

“The use of skin probiotics in cosmetics is not novel, but what we add we feel is proprietary knowledge and this should not be viewed as any form of contamination.

“An estimated one million bacteria, with hundreds of distinct species, inhabit each square centimetre of skin.

“The above should be considered when looking at the addition of probiotic bacterial components to our sunscreens.

“Our products have always been recommended by Dr Victoria Williams, Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology as effective probiotic sunscreen products.

“The client’s testing report submitted to us showed that the Reefsafe SPF50 preservative demonstrated its ability to reduce the growth of A. Brasiliensis (mould).

“Similarly, the Kool-a-Sun SPF 40 Sunscreen showed a satisfactory log reduction in A. Brasiliensis and C. Albicans (yeast).

“However, it is important to note that both products were found to be ineffective at reducing bacteria. This seems to contradict the concern raised with any mould or yeast issue and the presence of bacteria is part of the intended functionality of the probiotic proprietary formulations.

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“We are disappointed with the unfounded and unsubstantiated defamatory allegations made by the third party as we have always endeavoured to work to the highest standards and with the best intentions.

This is also evident by the fact that we conducted independent tests, the results of which were forwarded.

“It was nonetheless in Kool-a-Chem’s interest to resolve any matters Cansa harboured. We have been a loyal party for nearly 20 years with no previous issues. With regards to the Cansa trademark – again Kool-a-Chem had a 20-year relationship with Cansa.

“It was never our intention to subcontract the trademark, simply to supply our product (that is/was Cansa approved) for white labelling. This was as long as the seal holder details were stated on the packaging.

“This was a verbal agreement between Kool-a-Chem and a former Cansa employee which fell away when the said person left the organisation.”