After being fined $25k over previous breaches the TGA is targeting the celebrity chef once again
Celebrity Chef Pete Evans better brace himself because TV Blackbox can reveal the Therapeutic Goods Administration is launching a brand new investigation into his claims about therapeutic goods.
It’s not the first time Evans has faced the wrath of the TGA. In April last year his company was issued two fines totalling $25,200 over the promotion of a ‘BioCharger’ device, which Evans was selling for $15,000 and he claimed the device could be used in relation to the “Wuhan Coronavirus”. Our inside sources have revealed the new investigation is not related to COVID-19 products, “but other therapeutic items he has been but shouldn’t be advertising”.
This information is so top secret even Evans doesn’t know he is being investigated yet.
The TGA takes breaches very seriously and has been keeping a close eye on Evans ever since he came in their crosshairs after his original coronavirus claims. Therapeutic claims made by anyone aired on any media platform, including social media, must meet strict guidelines set out by the Therapeutic Goods Administration
When approached by TV Blackbox for comment, a spokesperson for the TGA said:
The TGA does not provide comment on compliance matters.
Evans has come under fire by critics for his controversial views on vaccines and COVID-19. He has repeatedly made posts opposing vaccines and masks, shared discredited coronavirus cures, and claimed in a podcast that the coronavirus is a hoax.
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FaceBook took his conspiracy theories so seriously they deleted his account, including Instagram, saying “”We don’t allow anyone to share misinformation about COVID-19 that could lead to imminent physical harm or about COVID-19 vaccines that have been debunked by public health experts.”
The TGA’s new investigation is another blow for the former TV personality after a string of controversies. Media insiders tell us he has become kryptonite to advertisers, who will not support any of his appearances. Australia’s biggest media buyers have made it clear they do not want their products placed anywhere near him.
Recently, the prospect of losing potential revenue forced Channel 7 to ditch their plans to include Evans in the new series of SAS Australia. Sources involved in the negotiations confirm Seven had shown interest in having Evans appear as a contestant. Executives believed that while he would be a controversial addition, his inclusion would generate headlines the way Schapelle Corby did in the first series. Ultimately, the decision was made to exclude him over fears audiences and advertisers would boycott the show if he was included.
It’s unclear how this new investigation will affect Evans’ political ambitions. In February he announced he will run for the Senate with former One Nation senator Rod Culleton’s The Great Australian Party. Political experts we spoke with don’t believe another fine from the TGA will hurt his chances at the ballot boxes saying, “While most of Australia might think the guy is a loon, he has a strong support base who hang off his every word. You have to remember it doesn’t actually take a lot of votes to get into the senate, so it’s very possible he might just be able to pull it off”.
More information to be revealed on The Anj, Rob & Robbo Show on Thursday night at 8pm
While politics might be in Evan’s future, his TV career is dead. Not only did Seven decide to leave him out of SAS Australia, but Channel 10 made the last-minute decision to drop him from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! earlier this year. Evans was on location in Murwillumbah at 6.30am for the first day of shooting when word was sent from Channel 10 executives that he was fired. Just 24 hours earlier Evans had posted a meme with a neo-Nazi symbol which went viral on social media. The production company behind the show, ITV, wanted Evans to remain and believed the controversy would blow over but after his publisher Pan Macmillan dropped him amid the furore it became obvious to Channel 10’s executives his appearance on the show could hurt ratings. When the call came through Evans was said to be angry about the decision.
It hasn’t all been bad for Evans though. The Chef found fame as a judge on My Kitchen Rules at a time when MasterChef had been dominating the ratings. Along with Manu Feildel, Evans took the show to number one and it became one of the biggest franchises on television.
Over the years there were controversies including his book bubba yum yum: the paleo way, which included a bone broth and liver recipe for infants which doctors feared would be life-threatening if given to young babies. Evans survived these controversies and My Kitchen Rules continued to thrive.
But in 2020 all that changed and viewers quickly turned off the show as Evans became more confident in his conspiracy theories. Ratings got so bad Channel 7 axed the show and moved Manu to a variety of shows on the network, but did not keep Evans on the books.
There is now talk of a My Kitchen Rules revival but TV insiders say Seven has no interest in making Pete Evans part of any possible version of the show. While Manu is well-liked at the network, Seven is done with Evans.
*Pete Evans has been approached for comment
