Pete Evans slapped with $80,000 fine from TGA over alleged false advertising of wellness products

The medical watchdog has fined celebrity chef Pete Evans’ company over alleged unlawful advertising of wellness products.

Pete Evans’ company was hit with six infringement notices totalling $79,920. Picture: Nathan Edwards

The company of controversial celebrity chef Pete Evans has been fined almost $80,000 by Australia’s medical watchdog over alleged false advertising of wellness products.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration on Tuesday slapped Pete Evans Chef Pty Ltd with six infringement notices totalling $79,920.

Therapeutic goods, including medical devices and medicines, must be entered in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods before they can be lawfully advertised in Australia.

The BioCharger device, hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers and two oral medicines were among the products the company falsely claimed were verified by the ARTG.

Fines were also issued to the business for issuing statements alongside “static magnetic products” that implied a health professional had endorsed their use.

“It is a requirement of the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code (No 2) 2018 that products are endorsed by health professionals, health practitioners or medical researchers,” a statement from the TGA said.

“Due to the repeated nature of the alleged advertising breaches, the TGA has also issued a directions notice to Mr Evans and his company, to cease advertising therapeutic goods not entered in the ARTG and to discontinue making various claims about therapeutic products.”

This is not the first time Mr Evans has been pulled up by the TGA.

In April last year was fined more than $25,000 for claiming the BioCharger device had magical coronavirus eradication properties.

The TGA received a number of complaints about the promotion of the device that occurred during a Facebook live stream to his 1.4 million followers.

Mr Evans claimed the device could be used in relation to “Wuhan Coronavirus”. The claim had no apparent foundation, the TGA said.

His accounts have since been removed from Facebook and Instagram for breaching the company’s community guidelines.

Mr Evans has been vocal about his anti-vaccination views, and has opposed the use of face masks throughout the pandemic.

“I don’t have the answers. No one is coming to save you except you,” Mr Evans told a crowd at an anti-vaccination rally in February.

“Each and every one of you has to stand up in whatever capacity you can.”

In November, Mr Evans had book deals dropped by Pan Macmillan, which published 17 of his books for his contentious views.

Woolworths, Big W, Dymocks, Coles, Kmart, Target and the homeware brands Baccarat and House have also distanced themselves from him and his company’s products.