Pete Evans is back with dodgy health advice, right in the middle of a pandemic.
The TV-famous chef did a live social media video this week in which he extolled the virtues of something called a BioCharger NG — a ‘light therapy’ device that he claims can be used to treat COVID-19.
On the brand’s website, the product is billed as “a hybrid subtle energy revitalization platform that works to optimize your health, wellness, and athletic performance by aligning and balancing the energy of every cell in your body.”
According to Evans, “it’s a pretty amazing tool” that contains “a thousand different recipes and a couple on there for Wuhan coronavirus”.
Oh. And Evans wants you to know that there’s a link to buy them on his website.
The RRP? US$14,990 (AU$23,670.71).
Plus $2,227.97 in shipping.
A promotional video for the machine on Evans’ website claims it uses “four different energy types – Light, Voltage, Frequencies & Harmonics, and Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Fields (PEMFs)”.
“Just sit comfortably in front of the Biocharger and select a frequency recipe from the menu,” the clip claims.
In the above Instagram post from 2018, Evans described “a brief gaze into the radiant light of the early rising or late setting sun” as one of the “the best forms of free medicine”.
No.
Staring toward the sun can cause damage to your eyes within a matter of seconds.
The Vision Eye Institute warns that when your eyes are over-exposed to the sun’s UV rays, the radiation literally cooks the exposed tissue and can cause permanent damage. And yes, this can even happen when UV levels are lower at sunrise and sunset.
BONUS ENTRY: His support for prominent anti-vaxxers.
Back in January 2020, Evans shared a selfie with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of late US senator, Bobby, and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy.
“Great to spend some time with @robertfkennedyjr and learning more about the important work he is doing for our planet and for the coming generations,” the My Kitchen Rules star captioned the Instagram post.
Kennedy, an environmental lawyer, also happens to be one of the world’s most prominent critics of vaccinations.
Not vaccinating children can be deadly, as explored in this episode of The Quicky.
Kennedy is the president of Children’s Health Defense, an advocacy group that claims there’s a link between vaccines and a range of health conditions including “seizures, neurodevelopmental disorders, and infant death”.
He’s also published several articles, a book and even produced a film all of which spout the conspiracy theory that mercury-based preservatives in vaccinations cause autism.
This is a claim that’s been disproven by scientific researchers, again and again. Yet so-called anti-vaxxers continue to circulate disinformation, mostly online, to the extent that the ‘movement’ has been linked to increased cases of entirely preventable and potentially deadly diseases, including whooping cough and measles, in several countries.
And there was Evans, a prominent media personality, smiling alongside this man, championing his “important work”.
Evans has never explicitly stated that he’s anti-vaxx and, in fact, his publicists recently denied it. Yet there are several examples of the chef aligning himself with prominent members of the movement.
Among them, podcaster and “holistic wellness” consultant Paul Chek.
In March 2019, Evans shared a podcast in which Check shared the views of osteopathic doctor and anti-vaccine campaigner Sherri Tenpenny: “One of the most important podcasts to listen to,” Evans wrote. “Thanks @paul.chek for asking the questions that need to be asked about vaccines and medicine.”
Let’s take a moment to remind ourselves that none of these people have relevant scientific qualifications. And again, that not one study has shown a positive link between vaccines, mercury and subsequent autism diagnosis.
The above is general information only and should not be considered a substitute for personalised medical advice. For further information on any of the health issues mentioned in this article, consult your doctor.
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Top Comments
Pete Evans is taking a very ‘interesting’ approach at the moment. He is posting links to ‘controversial’ news stories - Covid-19 vaccinations and 5G, for example. He then doesn’t say much himself about it - just sits back and let’s the masses run rampart with it. Very manipulative, I think. He seems to be enjoying stoking fires and generating controversy - and he is doing it without even saying much himself.
I have followed his paleo diet in the past. For me, it worked well as a way of eating. I did feel good. But I have no respect for what he is doing at the moment - especially when it comes to something as crucial as vaccinations.