Year 12 investigates industry claims
This term, our Year 12 Investigating Science class turned a critical eye to the promises made by industries we interact with daily — pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food. Each investigation helped students practise scientific inquiry while learning to question how data is presented to consumers.
A favourite among students was a case from New Zealand, where two schoolgirls famously challenged the vitamin C claims made by Ribena. After conducting their own tests, they found the drink contained far less of the nutrient than advertised — a discovery that led to widespread media attention and legal consequences for the brand.
Students selected consumer products and investigated their marketing claims using a mix of experimentation, research and analysis. One project looked into the popular trend of charcoal toothpaste. The student set out to determine whether it was truly more effective at whitening stained teeth compared to regular toothpaste. After carefully designing a fair test and analysing the results, their findings showed that charcoal toothpaste did in fact perform better at whitening — a revelation backed by evidence, not advertising.
Another investigation tackled the pharmaceutical world, examining the claim that Panadol Rapid acts twice as fast as standard paracetamol. Through time trials and comparative analysis, the student found convincing evidence to support the company’s assertion, giving the marketing slogan some solid scientific grounding.
Proving that sometimes the fine print sells itself short, a third investigation tested the popular claim that Dettol disinfectant wipes kill 99.9% of germs. In their laboratory test, the student found that the wipes eliminated 100% of detectable germs on the test surfaces — suggesting that the actual performance might even exceed the promise.
Whether testing local products or analysing international case studies, our budding scientists are learning to think critically, question boldly and back up claims with evidence.
Linda Steel
Science Teacher
