A baby and toddler cookbook co-authored by celebrity chef Pete Evans has been held back from publication after health officials said a baby could die if parents followed its Paleo recipes.
The Australian Woman's Weekly reports Pan McMillan have put back the release of Bubba Yum Yum: The Paleo Way over concerns about the book's recipe for a DIY baby milk formula containing liver and bone broth.
"In my view, there's a very real possibility that a baby may die if this book goes ahead," Professor Heather Yeatman, president of the Public Health Association of Australia, has told The Weekly online.
"Especially if [the DIY formula] was the only food a parent was feeding their infant, it's a very real risk. And [I consider that] the baby's growth and development could be impaired."
The formula recipe is said to contain more than ten times the safe maximum daily intake of Vitamin A for babies and does not provide adequate levels of other nutrients.
Health officials have concerns the recipe could potentially cause a vitamin A overdose in babies which could lead to a loss of appetite, dry skin, hair loss, bone pain, fissures in the corners of the mouth and failure to thrive.
The Federal Department of Health has been told about the potential dangers of the book, The Weekly reports.
Bubba Yum Yum: The Paleo Way, which was due to be released on Friday, also ignores national health guidelines by including runny eggs and added salt in recipes for young babies.
The book is co-authored by My Kitchen Rules judge and Paleo advocate Evans, baby recipe blogger Charlotte Carr and naturopath Helen Padarin.
In the past Evan has expressed his belief a Paleo diet may help prevent autism and a range of other conditions including asthma.
In an interview with Mother and Luxe last December Carr told how she came up with her own recipe for baby formula when her baby son Willow had trouble digesting her breastmilk.
"I felt overwhelmed with the ingredients on commercial formulas and just couldn't understand how we could go from something so pure to something so processed. What worked for me was finding a home made formula which I could make him," she said.
A promotional blurb for the book states "all kids deserve the best start in life".
"That means adopting a healthy lifestyle right from preconception, through pregnancy and breastfeeding, and into first foods. Health crusaders Charlotte Carr, Helen Padarin and Pete Evans have seen firsthand the positive impact a paleo way of eating has had on their families," the statement reads.
"Bubba Yum Yum they serve up simple, delicious paleo recipes for new mothers, babies and toddlers. All recipes are gluten-free, dairy-free and devoid of refined sugar, and instead favour ingredients that are organic, unprocessed and sustainably produced.
"Bubba Yum Yum is 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."
Although a disclaimer in the back of Bubba Yum Yum: The Paleo Way reads, "Although we in good faith believe that the information provided will help you live a healthier life, relying on the information contained in this publication may not give you the results you desire or may cause negative health consequences."
A Facebook Page dedicated to the book describes its recipes as "healthy nutritious nourishing meals and tips for Babies and Toddlers . Made with love and passion with a focus to heal. Gluten, and dairy free".
The page has more than 7000 followers and still lists the book's publication date as March 13 with no mention of a possible delay.
Publishers Pan McMillan have not yet made a statement about any delay in the book's publication date.