Pete Evans hits back at ACA’s paleo ‘witch hunt’

PETE Evans has fired back at ACA’s scathing paleo “witch hunt”, defending his qualifications as a health coach and claiming he’s never said the word ‘cure’ in his life.

PETE Evans has fired back at A Current Affair’s scathing paleo “witch hunt”, defending his qualifications as a health coach and arguing he’s never uttered the word ‘cure’ in his life.

Nine’s ACA took aim at the celebrity chef for his”obsession” with the controversial paleo diet during Monday night’s report, calling him out for “making a fortune” by selling the “fad diet”.

Reporter Ben McCormack referred to him as “popular, polarising, unqualified and dangerous” when introducing the segment titled ‘Teflon Pete’.

The My Kitchen Rules judge, who is currently in America, spoke to KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O this morning about the damning report. “I do find it fascinating that they’d use those type of words. I’d like them to be able to prove anything that they’re saying. If they can prove that I’m dangerous, then show me. If they can prove that I’m making outrageous claims, then show me the evidence,” he told the radio duo.

Viewers tuning into ACA last night weren’t impressed by the “one sided” account and quickly took to social media to label it “ridiculous” and a “witch hunt”.

One Twitter user commented: “Going to town and shredding someone’s character. I don’t agree with Pete Evans, but this is terrible journalism #tabloid.”

@ACurrentAffair9 you may not agree with the paleo diet but shaming Pete Evans the way you did is extremely poor journalism #disappointed

— Kavisha Di Pietro (@kdipietro04) May 11, 2015

@ACurrentAffair9 awful bullying of Pete Evans, WHY?? He's healthy, fit, successful and wants to help people, tall poppy perhaps?

— Sarah Michon (@michoncloutier) May 11, 2015

ACA 1-sided report on Pete Evans and Paleo was sensationalist and highly biased and unsubstantiated. The science behind Paleo is there!

— MY KITCHEN HEALS (@MYKITCHENHEALS) May 11, 2015

2/2 .. I'm not #paleo but I thank #peteevans for providing an alternative to a clearly broken health system. @ACurrentAffair9 - appalling.

— Adam Voigt (@adam_voigt) May 11, 2015

Evans, who described the program as “full on”, said no one from Channel 9 reached out to him for an interview or to get a comment before running it.

The TV personality defended his right to be able to dish out dietary and cooking advice, saying: “I didn’t create this [the paleo diet], I’m a chef that creates recipes that are of the understanding of how our bodies work through professionals.

“I’ve never said the word ‘cure’ in my entire life, ever.”

Referring to a lengthy Facebook post Evans shared overnight, he continued: “I’ve listed about 20 or 30 names of world leading researchers and professors and medical professionals from around the world that promote this. We’re talking about cardiologists, we’re talking about professors at universities, we’re talking about neurologists.

“We’re talking about the smartest people in the world that are promoting this, and all I’m doing is taking their information and putting it into a recipe and hopefully people will cook that.”

MKR judge Pete Evans says paleo is simply a choice and there’s “nothing weird about it”.

Two health experts weighed in on the medical effects of adopting the paleo way during ACA’s report, both criticising Evans’ endorsement of the food trend.

“I think the claims are at best optimistic and at worst fraudulent,” said Professor Kerryn Phelps.

“He’s probably much better preparing food than giving individuals information on how to eat it,” added nutritionist Susie Burrell.

Evans, who is no stranger to criticism, responded this morning: “I’m just doing the practical side of it which is what I’m trained to do. I’ve been cooking for 25 years, I’ve cooked a million meals and I’m also a qualified health coach, so I CAN talk about food.”

Susie Burrell believes the paleo diet is flawed. She said it’s not sustainable, and key nutrients aren’t provided in the long run.

But the Channel 9 program didn’t stop at Pete’s paleo peddling, it also questioned several times why Channel 7 had not sacked him over of his divisive food views.

“It’s not the first time that rival networks have done this,” said the MKR judge, who has recently signed on to return to the popular cooking show in 2016.

“The only question I’d have to ask is who were the people who were bad mouthing me on the show last night and who’s funding them?”

Seven has continued to stand by Evans in the wake of a series of controversies surrounding his staunch personal views on diet. He has also fronted The Paleo Way for the network, a cooking series which promotes recipes and healthy living tips in the non-ratings period.

“At the end of the day, it’s just really beautiful, simple food that has the potential to improve people’s lives so there’s nothing really weird about it. Anyone that wants to eat well, they can choose to eat well, and that’s all it is, it’s a choice.”

Did you watch Monday night’s A Current Affair? What did you think about the ‘Teflon Pete’ report?

MKR hosts Manu Feildel and Pete Evans have both signed on for another season next year.