A privately funded media organization published an attack Thursday of Smart Tan’s contention that overzealous “Sun Scare” is contributing to vitamin D deficiency.

FairWarning.org is a non-profit media organization sponsored by corporate and private contributions to produce controversial stories. The group found nothing legally wrong with Smart Tan training, but took issue with Smart Tan’s efforts to encourage salon employees, outside of work, to expose “Sun Scare” to their friends and neighbors.

Smart Tan’s Joseph Levy spoke with FairWarning.org’s Bridget Huber about how the sunscreen industry misbrands sunscreen as a daily-use product, even though the product is only designed to prevent sunburn. Smart Tan supports the correct usage of sunscreen as a product to be used only when sunburn is possible, a point that Huber didn’t include in her story.

“Despite being more than clear on this point, FairWarning’s story conspicuously and incorrectly gave the impression that we are completely against sunscreen,” Levy said. “It’s ironic that Huber wanted to talk about our allegation that the sunscreen industry is misbranding sunscreen as a daily-use product and what the potential effects of that can be, but her story didn’t even address that point. Instead, it merely attacked Smart Tan for daring to question those who promote ‘Sun Scare’ instead of ‘Sun Care.’”

The group also criticized the non-profit foundations that Smart Tan has encouraged groups to support — groups that promote a balanced message about UV exposure, acknowledging the risks of overexposure but acknowledging that UV is natural and intended and that it is the body’s chief source of vitamin D.”

FairWarning gave the impression that vitamin D deficiency is not an issue — interviewing dermatologists to support this point. Huber told Levy she interviewed vitamin D experts, but none of that material appeared in the piece.