Bubba Yum Yum: The Paleo Way was due to his stores tomorrow, but the publishers of the cookbook have “held back release” indefinitely due to health concerns.
Marketed as “a treasure trove of nutritional information and nourishing paleo recipes that are guaranteed to put you and your little one on the path to optimum health,” Evans book promotes the DIY formula as an alternative to commercial formula – despite the fact that the World Health Organisation had specifically stipulated that the only safe alternative to breast milk is commercial formula.
Health officials intervened after coming across the DIY baby formula which they say contains “more than ten times the safe maximum daily intake of vitamin A for babies and inadequate levels of other nutrients.
The ‘bone broth’ baby formulas include ingredients such as chicken liver, various oils and even a probiotic supplement that health officials say: ““could potentially cause a vitamin A overdose in infants, the symptoms of which include loss of appetite, dry skin, hair loss, bone pain, fissures in the corners of the mouth and failure to thrive.”
“ In my view there’s a very real possibility that a baby may die if this book goes ahead,” a spokesperson for the army of health officials said after alerting Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley to the “negligent” cookbook.
Health concerns about other recipes included in the controversial cookbook include the addition of salt to baby food, a vast limitation on fruit and the idea that babies should avoid consuming drinking water because of fluoride.
One of Australia’s best known nutritionists, Rosemary Stanton said: “The only good thing about it would be that the child would not get any junk food.”
“But I really think not to let a child have any dairy or grain products is not a good idea. Without any proof that this is a safe way to eat, I think it’s particularly unwise to do it with children,” Stanton added.
Co-authored by Evans along with blogger Charlotte Carr and naturopath Helen Padarin the book claims to be a “wealth of information on everything from where to source the best and freshest ingredients to how to make your own natural health remedies and how to rid your home of toxins. All recipes are gluten-free, dairy-free and devoid of refined sugar, and instead favour ingredients that are organic, unprocessed and sustainably produced.”
Pan Macmillan, the book’s publishers, have declined to comment on the decision to hold back the release and the book’s page on the website has since disappeared.
The Federal Department of Health released a statement confirming it had received concerns about the content of the book.
‘The Department of Health is aware of this publication and has concerns about the inadequate nutritional value of some of the recipes, in particular the infant formula, and has been consulting with experts and will continue to investigate this matter,’ the statement read.
It’s not the first time Pete Evans has come under fire for purporting the Paleo diet as a healthier alternative to the average diet. The chef has enjoyed a substantial following nationwide for his book and talk on ‘The Paleo Way’ – with close to 800,000 followers on Facebook alone.
The Paleo diet requires people to cut out grains, legumes, certain dairy products, conventionally-raised meats, non-organic produce, genetically modified and processed foods.
The Dieticians Association of Australia (DAA) in July last year, described the paleo diet as “potentially dangerous.”
