Pete Evans is in the headlines again after he's been criticized by none other than Queensland's health minister for his stand against water fluoridation.
Ms. Jillian Skinner, who is currently the health minister of New South Wales, and her department has been working hard in promoting water fluoridation in the region ever since it was mandated many years ago. Speaking on Daily Telegraph in Sydney, she shared her frustrations, saying they are spending a lot of their energy and effort in educating people about fluoride and vaccination, and all seemed to be countered by a "celebrity who doesn't know anything from the point of view of a specialist."
Fluoride is a mineral that is naturally occurring and is found in drinking water. It is capable of preventing or even reversing tooth decay by making the enamel, the covering of the teeth, stronger and preventing bacteria from creating cavities further.
She also went on to say that using cooking as a platform for his advocacy is "disturbing." Paleo advocate and cook Evans is also one of the judges of My Kitchen Rules, which Ms. Skinner has already stopped watching after she learned of Evans's activism.
Speaking on Sunday Telegraph, Evans clarified that he never said anything against vaccination or that there's a close link between it and autism (or any other disease for that matter). He also wishes to object on any insinuation that he did. However, he's open to talking about water fluoridation with Ms. Skinner provided that she or any representative she will send for the meeting will not misconstrue his opinions and beliefs.
Evans has been previously photographed joining an organization against fluoride in water.
Early this year, Evans and his new book called Bubba Yum Yum: The Paleo Way For New Mums, Babies and Toddlers, a baby book filled with baby-friendly Paleo recipes, was dropped by its first publisher Pan MacMillan after health experts heavily criticized the recipes that called on eating raw liver and honey.