FW business editor Andrew Shirley has his say:
Prince Charles' recent criticism of fast-food business McDonald's highlights the food-health tightrope that anybody involved in the farming industry has to walk at the moment.
And it seems even those, like the prince, who have repeatedly championed British farmers, can sometimes slip off that rope.
On a recent visit to Abu Dhabi, which apparently has the second-highest incidence of diabetes in the world, the prince suggested that banning the burger seller might help the health of the Gulf state's population.
However, love or loathe its food, McDonald's is a major buyer of milk and livestock from British farmers, and losing such a major customer would certainly be bad news for the industry.
Perhaps his comments were meant as a throw-away line and more importance was attached to them than he meant, but the media quickly latched onto them and gleefully levelled charges of hypocrisy at the prince.
It turns out that some of the products sold under his own Duchy Originals label contain more fat than a McDonald's Big Mac.
The health of the nation is more and more under the spotlight, commenting on it can be a very dangerous business.
Comments (1)
Few would suspect Charles's comments were made without forethought. Yet he misses the point that of all the fast food corporations McDonalds has persisted in trying to offer more healthy options. Once again the prince reveals himself to have his heart in the right place, but is tilting at the wrong windmills. Perhaps we will hear a fuller version of his philosophy on fast food - something FW could pursue perhaps.
Comment left on March 1, 2007 5:43 PM
Posted on March 1, 2007 17:43