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David Wolfe (raw food advocate)

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David Wolfe
Wolfe speaks at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in 2011
Born(1970-08-06)August 6, 1970(age 54)
San Diego, California
Alma materUniversity of California, Santa Barbara
University of San Diego
Occupation(s)Author, spokesman,social media influencer
Known forActivism for raw food, anti-vaccination movement

David"Avocado"Wolfe(born August 6, 1970) is an American author andconspiracy theorist.He promotes a variety ofpseudoscientificideas such asraw foodism,alternative medicine,andanti-vaccine sentiment.He has been described as "[o]ne ofFacebook's most ubiquitous public figures "as well as an" internationally renowned conspiracy theorist "and a"huckster".[1][2][3][4]

Early life

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Wolfe grew up inSan Diego, Californiaand graduated from theUniversity of California, Santa Barbara,where he studied mechanical and environmental engineering and political science. Afterwards, he earned aJuris Doctordegree at theUniversity of San Diego.[5]According to Wolfe, he becameintolerantof dairy when he was 18 and stopped consuming it, which led him to explore various diets and by the time he was 24 he was on an organic,raw fooddiet.[6]He introduced the diet to Thor Bazler (then known as Stephen Arlin), who had attended the same high school as Wolfe, and this led to the founding of their company Nature's First Law.[5]

Career

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Thor Bazler and Wolfe co-founded the company Nature's First Law in 1995.[5]The company sold organic food and products related toraw foodism.Wolfe and Bazler started the company selling products out of their car trunks; by 2005 the company had 23 employees and around $6 million in revenue, and had profits of $1.2 million in 2004.[5]The company grew in part by endorsements from celebrities.[5]By 2005 Wolfe had become an evangelist for raw foods, travelling and speaking, while Bazler stayed in San Diego and tended to the Nature's First Law business.[5][7][8]In 2007 Nature's First Law changed its name to Sunfood Nutrition.[9]The relationship between Wolfe and Sunfood ended at least by 2011, and there was litigation[10][11]involvingpersonality rights.[12]In 2012 Sunfood claimed Wolfe was defaming it.[13]

While affiliated with Sunfood Nutrition, Wolfe also co-founded the company Sacred Chocolate in 2006 with Steve Adler, which sells specialized raw chocolate products.[14]

New Horizon Health, Inc. was founded in 2009[15]and runs websites and businesses for which Wolfe is the "celebrity spokesperson": thee-commercesite, Longevity Warehouse,[16][17][18][19]and the subscription-basedlongevityweb magazine,The Best Day Everthat Wolfe says he co-founded.[16][17]New Horizon Health had $7.6M in revenue in 2013.[15]

Wolfe has been the spokesman forMagic Bulletsince its inception in 2012, and has appeared in severalinfomercialspromoting the product.[20]Wolfe has authored and co-authored several books promoting foods and offering diet advice.[21][22]

Other activities

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Wolfe is president of theFruit Tree Planting Foundation,[23]which received its IRS nonprofit certification in 2002.[24]

In 2004, Wolfe starred on the reality TV showMad Mad Houseregularly as thenaturist"alt",[25]alternative lifestylepractitioners who served as hosts and judges for the contestant "guests".[26]In 2004 Wolfe was part of a rock band called The Healing Waters that travelled the country in a vegetable-oil powered bus and performed songs including "Raw Food Girl" and "Bye Bye Burger World".[27]

Conspiracy theories and pseudoscientific claims

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Wolfe has been criticized for promotingpseudoscienceand "harmful scientificflimflam".He has been accused of convincing people they can prevent or cure real ailments with ineffective supplements and demonizing life-saving vaccines and cancer treatments.[28][29][30][1][4]In addition, he has made numerous statements about medical treatments that are not in keeping with the scientific and medical literature.

Anti-vaccine advocacy

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Wolfe is a prominent supporter of theanti-vaccineor "anti-vax" movement.[2][31]He has baselessly claimed thatvaccines cause autism or otherwise harm or kill people[32]and may not work.[33]This claim has beendiscredited.[34][35]Wolfe's anti-vaccination stance led to protests during a speaking tour of Australia in 2017,[36]which had been funded in part by anti-vaccination groups.[37]This led to the cancellation of a scheduled event after the withdrawal of a sponsor,[38]and at least one more after a venue cancelled the booking.[39]

Cancer

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Wolfe supports the unfounded claims that cancer research and moderncancer treatmentsare "largely a fraud".Wolfe's various websites and online stores sell alternative products he claims treat or prevents cancer. Wolfe advocates that people with cancer treat it withdietary supplements[20]and according to science writer Kavin Senapathy, he "demonizes life-saving vaccines and cancer treatments".[4]

Raw foodism and detoxification

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Wolfe promotes a diet based on unprocessed foods, stating that this has a "detoxification"effect.[20]Detoxification has been found to be unscientific and lacking in evidence.[40]

TheBritish Dietetic Associationhas described raw foodism as afad diet.[41][42]Claims held by raw food proponents are pseudoscientific.[43]: 44 

COVID-19

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Wolfe is a frequentCOVID-19 conspiracy theoristandanti-mask activist.He has spoken at anti-mask rallies and has repeatedly claimed without evidence that COVID-19 was artificially created.[44][45][46][47]

Wolfe advertises on Facebook hiscolloidal silver products,despite theNational Institutes of Health's warning that they are "not safe or effective for treating any disease or condition".[48][49]He called his brand his "#1 recommendation under thecurrent crisis."Medical professionals describe these sorts of treatments as a potentially harmful false cure.[31][50][51]

Other pseudoscientific claims

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Wolfe believes that gravity is a toxin and that "water would levitate right off the Earth" if the oceans were not salty.[32]

Wolfe claims thatchemtrailsexist,[20]thatthe Earth is flat,[32]and thatsolar panelsdrain the Sun's power.[52]He later stated the claim about solar panels was not meant to be taken literally.

Furthermore, he has advertiseddeer antler sprayas being "levitational" and an "androgenicforce. "[53]

References

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  1. ^abSenapathy, Kavin (February 8, 2018)."David 'Avocado' Wolfe Deletes Reviews After Facebook Page Slammed With Thousands Of 1-Star Ratings".Forbes.com.RetrievedMarch 26,2021.
  2. ^abShoebridge, Joanne; Turnbull, Samantha (March 15, 2017)."Pro-vaccination campaigners concerned about David 'Avocado' Wolfe's sell-out event".abc.net.au.RetrievedMarch 26,2021.
  3. ^Ahmed, Imran (July 7, 2020)."It's time the tech giants cracked down on the anti-vaxx infodemic".The Telegraph.RetrievedMarch 26,2021.
  4. ^abcSenapathy, Kavin (January 1, 2016)."A New Year's Resolution For Science Advocates: Don't Cry Wolfe".Forbes.com.RetrievedMarch 26,2021.
  5. ^abcdefSkidmore, Sarah (June 14, 2005)."Raw-food fervor starting to sprout".San Diego Union-Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon March 22, 2016.
  6. ^Goldstein, Myrna Chandler; Goldstein, Mark A. (2009).Food and nutrition controversies today a reference guide.Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. p. 200.ISBN9780313354038.
  7. ^Beckett, Fiona (August 10, 2002)."Take the heat out of eating".The Telegraph.RetrievedJune 21,2016.
  8. ^Russo, Ruthann (2010).The raw food lifestyle the philosophy and nutrition behind raw and live foods.Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.ISBN9781556439490.
  9. ^"Press Release: Organic Raw Foods Pioneer Changes Name to Sunfood Nutrition".Via New Hope Network.February 8, 2007.
  10. ^"David Wolfe Vs. Earle Douglas Harbison Case Number: 37-2011-00066729-Cu-Co-Ctl".Superior Court of California, County of San Diego. March 24, 2011.
  11. ^Billings, Thomas E."Investigating raw vegan and other diet gurus: Can you trust them?".www.beyondveg.com.Beyond Vegetarianism.RetrievedOctober 17,2016.
  12. ^"Publicity Rights Damages".Nevium Intellectual Property Solutions.RetrievedOctober 17,2016.
  13. ^"Press Release: Sunfood Defends Attacks on Corporate Integrity".Sunfood.August 16, 2012.
  14. ^Barba, Elizabeth (Spring 2012)."Organic Indulgence"(PDF).Certified Organic.pp. 22–26.Archived(PDF)from the original on September 5, 2015.
  15. ^ab"New Horizon Health: Number 519 on the 2014 Inc. 5000".Inc.com.RetrievedOctober 16,2016.
  16. ^ab"About Me".davidwolfe.com.Archived fromthe originalon May 25, 2016.RetrievedMay 20,2016.
  17. ^ab"Does David Wolfe's Bio On Wikipedia Hint He's Too Strange?".Superfoodly. June 1, 2016.
  18. ^"Site Disclaimer".Longevity Warehouse. Archived fromthe originalon October 17, 2016.RetrievedOctober 16,2016.
  19. ^"Longevitywarehouse.com website. David Wolfe & Longevity Warehouse | Superfoods, Superherbs, and more".Milonic.RetrievedOctober 16,2016.
  20. ^abcdAnderson, L.V. (June 28, 2015)."Everblasting Life".Slate.RetrievedMay 20,2016.
  21. ^Shriver, Jerry (April 26, 2002)."Healthful, raw-food trend is picking up steam".USA Today.RetrievedMarch 26,2016.
  22. ^"How To... Use chocolate for your skin".Seattle Post-Intelligencer.April 15, 2008.RetrievedMarch 26,2016.
  23. ^Schneider, Pat (February 8, 2010)."Advocates envision free fruit and nuts for Madison parks".The Capital Times (Madison WI).
  24. ^"Profile: Fruit Tree Planting Foundation".GuideStar.RetrievedOctober 16,2016.
  25. ^Keveney, Bill (January 8, 2004)."Sci Fi's 'Mad House': Pretty scary".USA Today.RetrievedJune 12,2016.
  26. ^Fries, Laura (March 2, 2004)."Review: 'Mad Mad House'".Variety.RetrievedJune 12,2016.
  27. ^Stumpe, Joe (April. 21, 2004)."The raw truth? Decide for yourself".The Wichita Eagle.
  28. ^Orac (May 28, 2015)."How is it that I've never heard of David Avocado Wolfe before?".Respectful Insolence.RetrievedMarch 11,2016.
  29. ^Rexroad, James (July 15, 2001)."To be eaten raw".The Guardian.
  30. ^LeMieux, Julianna (May 23, 2017)."'Super-Food' Blogger, Known as 'Avocado,' Acts Like a Nut | American Council on Science and Health ".American Council on Science and Health Blog.
  31. ^abAhmed, Imran (July 17, 2020)."Despite COVID-19 pandemic, tech giants still profit from anti-vaccination movement".USA Today.RetrievedMarch 26,2021.
  32. ^abcO'Leary, Cathy (February 28, 2017)."Call to stop anti-vaxxer's Perth talk".The West Australian.
  33. ^Babuschkin, David (August 11, 2016)."Beyond the Woo – Why David Wolfe & Co. Are Detrimental to Society".The Unapologists.
  34. ^Boseley, Sarah (February 2, 2010)."Lancet retracts 'utterly false' MMR paper".The Guardian.RetrievedFebruary 2,2010.
  35. ^Taylor, Luke E.; Swerdfeger, Amy L.; Eslick, Guy D. (June 2014). "Vaccines are not associated with autism: An evidence-based meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies".Vaccine.32(29): 3623–3629.doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.04.085.PMID24814559.
  36. ^Shoebridge, Joanne; Turnbull, Samantha. (March 25, 2017). "Pro-vaccination campaigners concerned about David 'Avocado' Wolfe's sell-out event",ABC.Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  37. ^Hansen, Jane. (March 5, 2017). "David Wolfe: Aussie anti-vaxxers funded flat earther's tour",The Daily Telegraph,News limited, Sydney, Australia. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  38. ^Arlington, Kim. (February 23, 2017). "Mr Vitamins faces backlash after promoting a talk by anti-vaccination advocate David Wolfe",The Sydney Morning Herald,Fairfax Media, Sydney, Australia. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  39. ^O'Rourke, Jim. (March 3, 2017). "Inner West Council smashes weekend event hosted by anti-childhood vaccination advocate David "Avocado" Wolfe",The Daily Telegraph,News limited, Sydney, Australia. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  40. ^Klein, AV; Kiat, H (December 2015). "Detox diets for toxin elimination and weight management: a critical review of the evidence".Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.28(6): 675–86.doi:10.1111/jhn.12286.PMID25522674.
  41. ^"Fad diets".British Dietetic Association.Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  42. ^"Top 5 worst celeb diets to avoid in 2018".British Dietetic Association. December 7, 2017.The British Dietetic Association (BDA) today revealed its much-anticipated annual list of celebrity diets to avoid in 2018. The line-up this year includes Raw Vegan, Alkaline, Pioppi and Ketogenic diets as well as Katie Price's Nutritional Supplements.
  43. ^Fitzgerald M (2014).Diet Cults: The Surprising Fallacy at the Core of Nutrition Fads and a Guide to Healthy Eating for the Rest of US.Pegasus Books.ISBN978-1-60598-560-2.
  44. ^"Antisemitic Conspiracy Superspreader David Icke To Headline Vancouver Anti-Mask" Mega Rally "".Canadian Anti-Hate Network. October 16, 2020.RetrievedMarch 26,2021.
  45. ^Wolfe, David (March 21, 2021)."Toronto united on March 20 to 'Just Say No' to masks, experimental vaccines and lockdowns".RetrievedMarch 26,2021.
  46. ^Wolfe, David (March 18, 2021)."Peel District School Board says teachers must now wear face shields or goggles. The hypochondria is much much worse than we ever imagined".RetrievedMarch 26,2021.
  47. ^Wolfe, David (January 20, 2021)."A Peruvian court said in a ruling that the pandemic was created by Bill Gates, George Soros and the Rockefeller family".RetrievedMarch 26,2021.
  48. ^"The Anti-Vaxx Industry"(PDF).Center for Countering Digital Hate.2020.Archived(PDF)from the original on December 21, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 3,2021.
  49. ^"Colloidal Silver".National Institutes of Health.Archivedfrom the original on December 20, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 4,2020.
  50. ^"My dad takes colloidal silver for his health. Is it safe?".mayoclinic.org.Mayo Clinic.May 25, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on April 8, 2015.RetrievedMarch 26,2021.
  51. ^"Author David Wolfe, who has millions of social media followers, is selling" coated silver "as a way to gain coronavirus" immunity "".mediamatters.org.Media Matters for America.May 18, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on May 18, 2020.RetrievedMarch 26,2021.
  52. ^Kasprack, Alex. (December 19, 2018). "Did David ‘Avocado' Wolfe Post a Meme About Solar Panels Draining Light from the Sun?",Snopes.com.Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  53. ^Engber, Daniel (August 10, 2015)."That *#^% Sugar Film".Slate.
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