Controversial celebrity chef Pete Evans has been fined almost $80,000 by Australia’s medical watchdog over alleged unlawful advertising of wellness products.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) today issued six infringement notices to Peter Evans Chef Pty Ltd, totalling $79,920.
The fines were issued over how a series of products, including a “BioCharger” device and hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers, were depicted as impacting a customer’s health.
A directions notice was also issued to the company and its sole director Peter Evans to ensure the non-compliant advertising was removed.
Under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, therapeutic goods, including medical devices and medicines, must be entered in an official register before they can be lawfully advertised in Australia.
“Fines were also issued for the alleged advertising of static magnet products and hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers that contained statements that implied the products were endorsed by a health professional,” the TGA said in a statement.
“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.”
In April 2020 Mr Evans was issued two infringement notices totaling $25,200 over the advertising of his “BioCharger” device, where he claim during a Facebook live stream that the device could be used in relation to “Wuhan Coronavirus”.
“Any claim that references COVID-19 is a restricted representation under therapeutic goods legislation, and is of significant concern to the TGA given the heightened public concern about the pandemic,” the TGA said at the time.
“The TGA recently published a warning to advertisers and consumers about illegal advertising relating to COVID-19.”
9News.com.au has contacted Pete Evans for comment.
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