Lol: Pete Evans Has Been Fined $25k For Spruiking A Bullshit Coronavirus Cure
Friends don't let friends listen to Pete Evans.
Notorious celebrity chef and ‘alternative health’ advocate Pete Evans has been fined for trying to sell a nonsense “biocharger” device as a potential coronavirus cure.
In case you missed it, Evans — who has flirted for years with dengerous conspiracy theories about 5g, vaccinations, and sunscreen — recently came under fire for selling a $15,000 device known as a biocharger. In a now-deleted Instagram post, Evans described the device as a “hybrid subtle energy revitalisation platform” which can “optimise and improve potential health, wellness and athletic performance”.
In a separate livestream, Evans also claimed the device was “programmed with a thousand different recipes and a couple on there for Wuhan coronavirus”, according to The Guardian.
Evans was widely mocked over his claims on social media, including by the Australian Medical Association, which said Evans “just doesn’t get it”.
This guy just doesn’t get it. Pete Evans is trying to sell a $15,000 fancy light machine to vulnerable and frightened people to protect them against #COVID_19.
He is not a doctor.
He is not a scientist.
He is a chef. pic.twitter.com/q6nWb3EojB— AMA Media (@ama_media) April 10, 2020
As soon as the story took off, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which regulates all therapeutic goods in Australia, announced it would investigate Evans’ claims. And now the verdict is in, and it turns out Pete Evans is full of shit.
The TGA has announced this afternoon that it would fine Evans $25,200 for two breaches of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.
In a scathing press release, the TGA said Evans claims about the device’s powers had “no apparent foundation”.
“The TGA received a number of complaints about the promotion of a ‘BioCharger’ device that occurred during a Facebook live stream on 9 April 2020. Mr Evans allegedly live streamed on his Facebook page, which has more than 1.4 million followers, claims that the device could be used in relation to “Wuhan Coronavirus” – a claim which has no apparent foundation, and which the TGA takes extremely seriously.”
“Any claim that references COVID-19 is a restricted representation under therapeutic goods legislation, and is of significant concern to the TGA given the heightened public concern about the pandemic. The TGA recently published a warning to advertisers and consumers about illegal advertising relating to COVID-19.”
“The TGA has issued the Company with an infringement notice in respect of the representation made in the live stream / video.”
“A second infringement notice was issued for alleged advertising breaches on the website www.peteevans.com, which is maintained by the Company. The page for the BioCharger included claims such as:
- ‘proven to restore strength, stamina, co-ordination and mental clarity’
- ‘sharpening your mental clarity’
- ‘recovery….from an injury, stress’
- ‘accelerating muscle recovery and reducing stiffness in joints’.
Evans has made several posts on his social media channels today, but has not directly referenced the fine. We’ve contacted him for comment and will update this story when he gets back to us.