FMS-Blog : The Wildly Whimsical, Mostly Musical WebLog
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Charles on McDonald's
Today, the Prince of Wales asked a nutritionist in the United Arab Emirates, "Have you got anywhere with McDonald's, have you tried getting it banned? That's the key."
What on earth is he on about? Only a few days ago I was chatting with friends about highs and lows of our British royal family and, despite very mixed views on their role as a whole for the future of the UK, we were pretty unanimous that Charles seems to be one of the only members of the house of Windsor to make any sense; to have real concerns about real issues in modern day Europe. Then he comes out with some tripe about banning a fast food restaurant!
I'm not suggesting that the practises of McDonald's are good any more than I would advocate that the food they produce has a valuable place in any healthy diet. Certainly, the advertising methods they use to attract children to their brands, and so encourage young people to eat food that is high in sugar, salt and fat, are nothing short of abhorrent and it is up to advertising standards to deal with this on a case-by-case basis. But, for Prince Charles to suggest to someone - someone outside the UK - that the 'key' (presumably to a healthier society) is to ban the chain outright is utter rubbish. I for one don't want to live in a nanny state where we're forced to eat what the government decides is best for us. But, then, neither do I want to live in a society that elevates people to the level of the head of state, bestowing upon them all power to dissolve a politically elected parliament, based entirely on who their mother happens to be.
What on earth is he on about? Only a few days ago I was chatting with friends about highs and lows of our British royal family and, despite very mixed views on their role as a whole for the future of the UK, we were pretty unanimous that Charles seems to be one of the only members of the house of Windsor to make any sense; to have real concerns about real issues in modern day Europe. Then he comes out with some tripe about banning a fast food restaurant!
I'm not suggesting that the practises of McDonald's are good any more than I would advocate that the food they produce has a valuable place in any healthy diet. Certainly, the advertising methods they use to attract children to their brands, and so encourage young people to eat food that is high in sugar, salt and fat, are nothing short of abhorrent and it is up to advertising standards to deal with this on a case-by-case basis. But, for Prince Charles to suggest to someone - someone outside the UK - that the 'key' (presumably to a healthier society) is to ban the chain outright is utter rubbish. I for one don't want to live in a nanny state where we're forced to eat what the government decides is best for us. But, then, neither do I want to live in a society that elevates people to the level of the head of state, bestowing upon them all power to dissolve a politically elected parliament, based entirely on who their mother happens to be.
