Alan Hamilton
We've made some changes
to The Sunday Times
As if the Middle East didn’t have enough conflicts already, a new one erupted yesterday between the Prince of Wales and the burger.
Visiting a medical centre in Abu Dhabi, the Gulf state that has the second highest incidence of diabetes in the world, the Prince suggested that banning McDonald’s could be the key to improving the emirates’ health.
The burger chain, which has six outlets in the largest of the United Arab Emirates, immediately sprung to its own defence, suggesting that the organic and environment-loving Prince was out of touch with current burger thinking, particularly in Britain. He was, the company implied, bordering on the ungrateful.
Accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall on his ten-day tour of friendly Gulf states, the Prince was learning about new initiatives to improve Abu Dhabi’s health as he visited the centre backed and largely staffed by Imperial College, London. The royal couple watched a class of children being taught about food choices when the Prince turned to Nadine Tayara, a nutritionist who had put the children through their well-rehearsed paces, and asked: “Have you got anywhere with McDonald’s? Have you tried getting it banned? That’s the key.”
More than one fifth of the population of the oil-rich state aged between 20 and 79 are diagnosed as diabetic, and 40 per cent of the entire population is deemed to be at risk.
In an effort to keep the peace the Prince’s spokesman said: “The Prince has for a long time advocated the importance of a balanced diet, especially for children. In visiting the diabetes centre today he was keen to emphasise the need for children to enjoy the widest variety of food and not to eat any particular sort of food to excess.”
It would be fair to say that McDonald’s was hurt by the aside, calling it “disappointing”, and immediately launching a counter-attack.
“This appears to be an off-the-cuff remark,” a spokeswoman said. “The Prince is clearly unaware of some of the moves the company has made, such as improved labelling, supporting sustainable agriculture and nutritional changes.”
Although he has not previously attacked McDonald’s by name, the Prince has had a series of stand-offs with the burger, most of which he has lost.
More effective antiburger publicity was generated by Morgan Spurlock, whose attempt to survive on nothing but McDonald’s supersize burgers for 30 days, with dire consequences for his health, was the subject of a revoltingly riveting TV documentary. The company subsequently dropped its supersize portions.
The Prince’s attempts to keep his family away from the dish have largely failed. The late Diana, Princess of Wales, famously took the young Princes William and Harry to the burger stall at Alton Towers and made them queue like ordinary kids. But it was not McDonald’s. Mervyn Mycherley, then the chef to the Royal Household, disclosed that the boys often demanded beef-burgers, which he made with the finest fillet steak.
“Princess Diana did like to give them a treat occasionally and take them to Burger King, which apparently they preferred to McDonald’s,” he said.
Since then the Princes, and William’s girlfriend Kate Middleton, have regularly been seen munching into a burger.
Only yesterday a tabloid newspaper covered its front page with a picture of the Queen tucking into a whopper. Oh, sorry; that was Dame Helen Mirren, in a feeding frenzy after her Oscar triumph.
Prince on food
After years of polluting, processing and overrefining our food, we are suffering from adverse health problems and, worse still, we are inflicting them on our children
To Royal Society of Medicine, 2005
We no more want to live in anonymous concrete blocks . . . than we want to eat anonymous junk food which can be bought anywhere
Slow Food Movement conference, Turin, 2004
Over the last two generations we have managed to create a nation of fast-food junkies
Slow Food conference, Isle of Skye, 2005
The list of diseases with a dietary linkage is long, and there is increasing concern about overweight and obesity in young people
The Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health, 2003
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I agree with Dr Uzmi. Cheap food is not cheap. The obesity epidemic and the diseases associated with it cost society (i.e., all of us) a fortune. We are paying a dear price for every 99c burger eaten: in health care and environmental costs, to name just two areas.
It is increasingly clear that we are unable to regulate our own consumption of these foods, and the diseases they cause are all increasing in prevalence. Society cannot continue to be held ransom by the cost of paying for these diseases and the toll producing these "foods" takes on the environment. We can surely find better things to spend taxpayers money on.
DJ, physician, Baltimore, US
D Johnston, Baltimore, Maryland, US
Well this is a sure way to a nanny state..First they came for the cigarettes, then they came for the burger.. what's next beer? ...ARGGHH!
If you do not like fast foods do not eat it!! you over-regulating yourselves to death.
Sorry for my grammar.
Kiarie Kinyanjui, Ulm, Germany
I take my hat off too. As a medic in a general practise I am able to see the effects of fast food within a very well off population in Solihull, Birmingham. Young people looking eye sight and kidney failure in 40 years olds. Just not right!... and easily avoidable. McDonald's should be banned everywhere... not just the Middle East.
Uzmi, Birmingham, England
Limit the number of fast food restaurants within a city depending on population.
victoria, Cheshire, UK
I agree with Prince Charles that it is time to rebel against food companies that do not have customer health as a priority. Even
though the silent majority may dislike McDonald's food, they
may not feel aggressive enough to tell it like it is. If we can ban
cigarettes because of health reasons, McDonalds food leads
to bad health also even if not a direct cause of death.
James, Columbus, USA/Ohio
My hat off to Prince Charles. He has the courage to say what the rest of us should all be saying. I never go to McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, or places of that ilk because it's only too well known how bad for one's health a superfluity of fat, cholesterol, and sodium are, to say nothing of the lack of real nugtrition in junk food. (Just ask yourself why we call it "junk.") Many others in positions of influence should be saying what the Prince said, but they don't have the courage of their convictions. Thank God the Prince does.
Hermione, Alameda, CA, U.S.A.
I think blaming a single brand, such as McDonalds, for obesity its and its associated problems it ridiculous. Restricting peoples choice of food is not the answer either, as ultimately people need to assume responsibility for themselves. Resources would be better channelled into providing people with the information they need in order to make an informed choice about their diet. Your article mentions that the princes enjoy burgers - perhaps the offer of a Royal Charter will assuage McDonalds anger.
Rob Singh, Hull,
I'm a great supporter of Prince Charles, but I think it would have been better had he not made this particular remark. No-one with any concern at all for their, or their children's health, would suggest eating regularly in McDonalds, but for an occasional change it's fine, and you don't necessarily have to have chips or burgers. I happen to like their fish sandwiches - some similar chains don't offer fish at all. It comes down to a sensible approach to eating - banning brands which are popular, whether deservedly or not, isn't the answer.
Barry, Wallington, UK
I normally avoid places like McDonalds (I visit once every two years approx) but there is something about Charles making such poorly thought out comments that makes me want to go to McDonalds tonight...
Patricia, Reading, England
Has anyone tried banning the Prince of Wales? That's the key.
Michael Grable, Silver Spring, MD
I back him 100%, now, if only we could have an absolute monarchy again, he'd sort the complete mess this coutry is in.
James, Reading,
I don't usually agree with a lot of Prince Charles' thinking, but he is spot on with this one. I challenge anyone to read the book "Fast Food Nation" and not be horrified by the McDonald's (and Burger King etc.) approach. They target children ruthlessly in their marketing, and their seemingly "healthy" kids options are a minefield. Do some research on how much chicken their "chicken" nuggets actually contain !!! I have not been in to a McDonalds or Burger King for over 6 years - since reading that book. I used to be a fast food junkie. I feel better for it. Prince Charles is right in his sentiment. They will never be banned, but at least public pressure can help to move them to healthier ways.
Jon, London, UK
I think this is an entirely inappropriate comment from the Prince, who clearly comes from a very unique and sheltered background. He is out of touch with the general population of this country, and indeed the entire world. When he makes patronising and ridiculous comments like this, It just serves to offend and annoy the general public.
Simon, Staines, Surrey
Any company whose advertising is directed at children to get their parents to bring them to aquire the latest trinket and then stuff them with greasy,salty french fries,fatty hamburgers,and sugar laden,caffein laced soda,is in my mind suspect.The world would be far better off without them.
RON, topsham,
The Prince is absolutely right. Macdonalds are a menace to world health.
Curtiss, Milford-on-Sea, Hampshire
Bravo - the UK needs more straight talking people - rather than the politicos - who seem to do anything but.
James, Beijing, China