Outrage as MKR judge Pete Evans claims sunscreen contains ‘poisonous chemicals’

HE’S already dished up wacky views on fluoride and paleo diets for ­babies but celebrity chef Pete Evans has again stirred the pot by offering up controversial advice on sunscreen.

Pete Evans has admitted to not wearing sunscreen, describing the lotions as containing ‘poisonous chemicals’. Picture: Matrix

HE’S already dished up wacky views on fluoride and paleo diets for ­babies but celebrity chef Pete Evans has again stirred the pot by offering up controversial advice on sunscreen.

The My Kitchen Rules star was immediately slip, slop, slapped down by health experts after telling his 1.5 million-plus social media followers that sunscreen was full of “poisonous chemicals” and his choice of sun protection was “generally nothing”.

In a post on his Chef Pete Evans Facebook page, a follower asked what he used for sunscreen to which Evans replied: “Generally nothing as I keep an all over tan all year and don’t stay out in the sun for super long ­periods of time.”

He then went on to ­describe normal sunscreen as “silly” and “people put on normal chemical sunscreen then lay out in the sun for hours on end and think they are safe because they have covered themselves in poisonous chemicals, which is a recipe for disaster as we are witnessing today”.

Nicola Robinson posted this picture of her husband Pete Evans at the beach. Picture: nutritionmermaid/Instagram

Evans recommends a product not listed on the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). He also appears on that product’s Facebook page.

The Cancer Council’s director of education Terry Slevin, who is also the author of the book Sun, Skin And Health, blasted Evans for his dismissal of sunscreen.

“The science is clear, increased ­exposure to UV radiation equals an increased risk of skin cancer and this is from people who have been researching this for decades,” Mr Slevin said.

He said it was concerning that someone like Evans  with  such  a strong following was ­giving out advice without the backing of ­science.

Groundbreaking Australian research published in March demonstrated for the first time that regular sunscreen use can prevent the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma.

A picture posted on Facebook of Pete Evans lying in the sun. He has made comments about sunscreen being ‘poison’.

MKR judge Pete Evans look fit and tanned. Picture: Mark Calleja

Known as the Nambour study, half of the 1600 randomly selected residents from Nambour in Queensland applied sunscreen every day and the other half applied sunscreen as they would normally.

After 15 years, the people who ­applied daily had half the melanomas of the other group.

Mr Slevin said Evan’s opinion that chemical sunscreen was “poisonous” was also dangerously inaccurate.

“Sunscreen use, including UV absorbers, which he refers to as chemical sunscreen, has been proven to reduce skin cancer risk,” Mr Slevin said.

“The question is who should people take their advice from on sun protection. Mr Evans is not someone I would call on for that advice. It’s yet another case of someone (in this case with a media profile) undermining the safety and efficacy of sunscreen.”

The Public Health Association of Australia’s Michael Moore said the sunscreen advice was outrageous.

Evans did not return calls seeking his comment.