Prince Charles: 'Ban McDonald's'

Prince Charles has appeared to criticise fast food chain McDonald's during a visit to the Gulf.

The prince was at the launch of a public health awareness campaign aimed at fighting diabetes in the United Arab Emirates when he seemed to suggest to a nutritionist that "banning McDonald's was the key".

His remarks were overheard during a tour of the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi where he was told about new initiatives to improve the nation's diet and fitness levels.

The Prince, who visited the centre with the Duchess of Cornwall, is a keen advocate of organic food and in 1986 set up a farm on his Highgrove Estate that does not use artificial pesticides or fertilisers.

The Royal couple watched as a group of young children chose from a selection of "good" and "bad" snacks for their school packed lunch boxes.

Encouraging pupils to eat sensibly is one of the initiatives of the campaign - Diabetes Knowledge Action - and it is hoped UAE youngsters will pass their healthy eating habits on to their families.

When all the children picked up the bottles of water and tiny bags containing fruit and vegetables but left behind the chocolate and crisps, Camilla and Charles laughed.

The Prince then chatted to nutritionist Nadine Tayara from the centre, who had put the children through their paces, and asked her: "Have you got anywhere with McDonald's, have you tried getting it banned? That's the key."

The UAE has the second highest prevalence of diabetes in the world with more than 20 per cent of those aged 20 to 79 already diagnosed with the illness, while 40 per cent of the population are prone to the disease.

A McDonald's spokeswoman said Charles's remark was "disappointing".

"This appears to be an off-the-cuff remark, in our opinion," said the spokeswoman. "It does not reflect our menu or where we are as a business."

A Clarence House spokesman, travelling with the Prince and Duchess on their ten-day tour of the Gulf, later issued a statement.

It said: "The Prince of Wales 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."

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