Pete Evans claims BioCharger light machine can treat COVID-19
A $15,000 machine using ‘recipes of light’ can help treat coronavirus, celebrity chef Pete Evans has claimed in a new video he posted to thousands of people on social media. His claims will now be investigated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
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Celebrity chef Pete Evans is spruiking a $15,000 light machine to recharge the body and he claims it can treat “Wuhan coronavirus” with light ‘recipes’.
The BioCharger NG Subtle Energy Platform, retailing on Pete Even’s website for $14,990 claims to be a “subtle energy revitalisation platform. Four transmitted energies stimulate and invigorate the entire body to optimise and improve potential health, wellness, and athletic performance”.
The Channel Seven My Kitchen Rules star said in a live post the BioCharger “is a pretty amazing tool that will take you down some a rabbit holes and it will take me an hour or two to explain it”.
He went on to say there were “a thousand different recipes and a couple on there for Wuhan coronavirus”.
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Dietitian, and member of Friends in Medicine and Science Mandy-Lee Noble said it appeared the BioCharger was like a plasma lamp.
“It is a glorified plasma lamp that make your hairs stand on end, and the recipes are different colours, it’s a recipe from the lamp, putting on a different colour show,” she said.
“It says on the clip online, ‘just like you charge your phone, this charges you’.
“It is probably no threat to people but if people think this in any way will treat or prevent COVID-19 infection, that risks our community response to the pandemic, that is dangerous, it’s an indirect harm.”
Mr Evans has increasingly pushed an alternative health agenda, including sharing anti-vaccine propaganda on to his 1.5 million followers.
Last year amid the Samoan measles epidemic, he posted a picture of himself on social media with anti-vaccine proponent Robert F Kennedy Jr and cited ‘the important work he is doing’ complete with a love heart emoji.
Robert F Kennedy Jr is the founder of Children’s Health Defence which funds a large chunk of anti-vax advertisements and misinformation on Facebook. Critics have also roasted Mr Evans for giving out health advice without any formal training.
The machine, which looks like a colourful food processor claims ‘Energies used in the BioCharger are Light, Frequencies & Harmonics, Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMFs), and Voltage. These are all natural energies found in nature.”
“Just sit comfortably in front of the Biocharger and select a frequency recipe from the menu,” the online video says on Evan’s website.
“It just goes to show our Health Care Complaints Commission and Therapeutic Goods Administration and health minister Brad Hazzard how much of a risk Pete Evans is to the community and they need to take action to shut Evans down and Channel Seven needs to stop giving him a platform,” Ms Noble said.
Professor of medicine and public health advocate John Dwyer said “this man has for a long time been dangerous and ignorant and in this case anyone making false claims about coronavirus it is not just nonsense but dangerous nonsense.”
“If he is selling a therapeutic machine, he is required to submit details to the TGA and seek registration on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods before he can market it or make claims for it, it is along with many other similar machine that make wild claims, is a dangerous piece of nonsense. I am sure he has been nowhere near the TGA,” Prof Dwyer said.
A search of the ARTG brings up no listing for the BioCharger.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration announced it would investigate the BioCharger.
A spokesman for the Federal Department of Health said “the TGA will investigate the product you have referred and take action in relation to any illegal advertising of therapeutic products, including advertising on social media.
“The TGA is monitoring noncompliance, particularly in relation to the advertising of products that claim to prevent or cure COVID-19,” the spokesman told The Daily Telegraph.
“The TGA has issued a warning about advertising relating to COVID-19 which reminds consumers that, in Australia, the advertising of therapeutic goods is regulated by the TGA and must meet certain requirements in the Therapeutic Goods Act.”
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly issued a warning this afternoon to anyone suggesting they could successfully treat the coronavirus.
“There is no specific treatment yet proven to be able to cure this virus,” Professor Kelly said.
“Please be wary of claims that there is a cure for this virus.”
“To claim that there is a cure for this virus … is illegal in Australia.
Mr Evans has been contacted for comment.