McCollum
ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - The American Cancer Society was given a check for $47,500 by the Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, with the money coming from a settlement with sunscreen manufacturers.
Energizer Personal Care Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic Sun Products agreed to the settlement with McCollum to resolve issues related to marketing of sunscreen products.
Terms used to market sunscreen that were potentially inaccurate or misleading were investigated by the McCollum's Economic Crimes Division, beginning last summer. The focus of the investigation lay in the use of the terms "waterproof," "sweat-proof," "sunblock," and "all day" in relation to the advertisements of the companies' sunscreen products.
The investigators were concerned that the terms could mislead consumers about the protective capabilities of the products.
"Here in the Sunshine State, we have certain expectations that our sunscreen will protect us from harmful UV rays," McCollum said.
"I am pleased to award these funds to the American Cancer Society to help them continue educating consumers about the dangers of the sun's harmful rays and the importance of sun protection."
The companies, which manufacture, distribute and sell sunscreen products throughout the United States and abroad, had begun changing their advertising, labeling and marketing strategies as the investigation began, cooperated fully with the investigation and agreed not to use the investigated claims in commercial advertising for sunscreen products, McCollum said.
The companies, under terms of the settlement, will also pay the State's fees and costs in addition to the charitable contribution to the American Cancer Society.