‘You are a chef, NOT a doctor’: Australian doctor slams ‘Paleo’ Pete Evans’ health advice

An Australian doctor has criticised chef Pete Evans on social media after the celebrity chef recommended that a woman with osteoporosis avoid dairy products.

Evans is an avid supporter of the Paleo diet, which is based on proteins, fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and meat but excludes dairy, most grains and processed foods. He took to Facebook yesterday to answer questions from his fans, Mamamia reported.

One woman reportedly asked Evans whether the Paleo diet could assist with her osteoporosis.

"I would strongly suggest removing dairy… as calcium from dairy can remove the calcium from your bones," Evans responded.

READ MORE: 'Paleo Pete' Evans warns against dairy in latest controversial claim

"I haven’t given my kids dairy for over five years and they are thriving," he added.

Australian doctor Brad Robinson responded to Evans’ "astounding" advice in an open letter posted to Facebook earlier today.

"You are a chef, NOT a doctor," Dr Robinson wrote.

"You do not have access to information that us uneducated doctors do not.

"Your astounding advice about osteoporosis would be amusing if it wasn't so potentially damaging to anyone at risk who actually believed you," he said.

"Can we make a deal? You don’t give medical advice and I won’t tell you how to best shuck oysters".

Evans also came under scrutiny from Osteoporosis Australia’s Peter Ebeling, who told the Herald Sun the chef’s claims were "really bad and just not true".

"You can’t assume what he says is scientifically correct," Prof. Ebeling said.

"The keystone to preventing osteoporosis is adequate calcium intake and this is achieved by three (daily) serves of calcium-rich foods like dairy.

"Dairy is the most easily available source and has the highest calcium content in it."