Simon & Schuster’s Atria Books imprint is shredding an estimated 7,000 copies of Belle Gibson’s debut cookbook, “The Whole Pantry.”
The book, which was already published by Penguin in Australia, came under fire because of doubts about the author’s story that she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and that a diet of natural health foods helped her beat the disease.
Gibson was also soliciting donations to charities that the Sydney Morning Herald said did not exist.
The book was already released in Australia. The US edition was slated to go on sale April 14 and copies had already been printed and shipped to warehouses.
“Our decision was made upon the failure of the author to provide clarification for numerous allegations concerning her biography and charitable endeavors,” Atria said in a statement.
All orders for the book were canceled.