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The Royal pasty that's unhealthier than a Big Mac
Last updated at 16:07pm on 28.02.07
Charles lambasted McDonald's, but his Cornish speciality has more calories and saturated fat than a Big Mac
He's a tireless champion of organic farming and healthy eating.
So it was perhaps no surprise when Prince Charles launched an attack on the fast-food industry.
But when he went as far as suggesting that McDonald's should be banned, it seemed that the prince had bitten off far more than he could chew.
He immediately laid himself open to charges of hypocrisy after it was pointed out that the company's signature Big Mac contains fewer calories, fats and salt than some products in his own organic Duchy Originals food range.
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How they compare...
His Cornish pasty contains 264 calories per 100g compared to the burger's 229 calories, and 5.5g of saturated fat as opposed to the Big Mac's 4.14g.
The prince's comments regarding McDonald's, the world's biggest fastfood chain, came during an event to promote better public health on the penultimate day of his tour of the Gulf.
Charles met nutritionist Nadine Tayara at a new centre to combat diabetes in Abu Dhabi set up by Imperial College London.
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Miss Tayara was showing him how local schoolchildren were being encouraged to put fresh fruit and salads in their lunch-boxes each day instead of eating fast food, when he remarked: "Have you got anywhere with McDonald's? Have you tried getting it banned? That is the key."
His off-the-cuff remark immediately put him on collision course with the company, which has not shied away from issuing lawsuits against critics in recent years.
A McDonald's spokesman said the company was "disappointed" at the prince's remarks and pointed out that several members of his family have been regular customers over the years.
The spokesman declined to comment on the relative "healthiness" gap between the royal pasty and the company burger.
Prince Harry was recently photographed nipping off from a polo match to buy a burger and some chicken nuggets and, as a boy, was a regular visitor to the fast food outlet with his mother, the late Princess of Wales, and brother William.
The Prince was accompanied by his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, to the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre. The facility opened in June last year with mainly British medical staff and specialises in the treatment of diabetes as well as research and education.
A Clarence House spokesman said after the visit: "The Prince of Wales believes very strongly in the importance of a balanced diet for everyone, especially children.
"In visiting the diabetes centre today, he was keen to draw attention to this very important issue, particularly the need for children to enjoy the widest possible variety of food and not eat any particular food to excess."
But the spokesman declined to discuss claims that a Big Mac was, in fact, healthier than one of the Prince's own Cornish pasties, saying that the Duchy Originals brand openly recorded the nutritional content of its products. "It is up to consumers to decide whether to buy them," he said.
Diabetes has become a huge problem in Abu Dhabi, part of the United Arab Emirates, in recent years with 25 per cent of the population suffering from the disease
Doctors believe this is due to the population switching from a traditional diet to a Western one, high in saturated fats and sugar.
Penny Mordaunt, director of nations, regions and campaigning at Diabetes UK, said of the prince's comments: "Diabetes UK does not believe that banning fast food is the answer to improving people's diets and in turn reducing obesity and diabetes.
"Realistically, it is not practically possible to prevent people from getting hold of any sort of food. Good education about the damage a diet high in sugar, fat and salt can do is the best way to encourage people to change their eating habits."
A spokesman for McDonald's said of the prince's comments: "In our opinion they appear to be off-the-cuff remarks that do not reflect either our menu or where we are as a business. Other family members have visited us and they obviously have a more up-to- date picture of us."
The spokesman pointed out at the fast-food chain had, in recent years, introduced new choices such as salads, semiskimmed organic milk, fruit and carrot sticks as well as reducing the levels of salt in its meals.
She added: "We have also improved the nutritional information we provide."
Daily Mail nutritionist Jane Clarke said: "While I would prefer to eat one of Prince Charles's cornish pasties because the meat is far superior to a fast food giant, it doesn't surprise me that the actual fat and calorie levels are higher than most people realise."
Reader views (22)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
According to MacDonald's Web site, a Big Mac in the U.S. contains 540 calories.
- Mary O'Donnell, Berne, IN USA
I suspect your calorie count on the Big Mac is way off. There's meat, cheese, sauce, and buns.
- Laurie, Altadena, CA, USA
I love the irony in Charles' comment... "It is up to consumers to decide whether to buy them," concerning the pastry. Why can't consumers also decide if they want a Big Mac? I'm so glad the US doesn't have to deal with aristocracy... we just get Sean Penn instead.
- Amanda, Chicago, USA
Hmmm. Charles is getting to be more like Phillip every day!
- Julie, Durham, NC, USA
Is there any way Chuck can be skipped over as king and have the title passed to William? Comments like this prove how out of touch he is with reality.
- Babs, USA
If that isn't the pot calling the kettle black, I don't know what is. Seems to me that the Prince is marketing is own wares at the expense of others. What happens when everyone remains obese after a diet of the Duchy Originals? I'm offended by the apparent transparency of all this. Then again, the Prince has a point, I mean if the kids are going to be offered slop for food, one might as well include his too. The solution is simple: if you don't want to buy McDonald's or a Duchy Pastry - don't buy it. Who cares how good or bad it tastes? If you don't want yourself or your children to be overweight, then get a decent cook book and use it. For crying out loud, I am tired of governments trying to legislate private life. Be it in the US or the UK. It's one thing to encourage good health. It's quite another to try to inflict it on everyone else.
- Mike J, Winterset, IA, USA
People should just not pay attention to this him. He is an absolute hypocrite. Organic farming, an elitist lifestyle, do as I say, not do as I do. With any luck he will never be the king.
- Philip Cox, USA
So the Prince is sort of the Al Gore of saturated fat, huh?
- Bruce, Austin, Texas
"Have you tried getting McDonald's banned?". Who the heck does "Prince Chuck" think he is, Lord and Master? He's almost as bad as our Al Gore. Both of them are off on their facts.
- John Hess, Petaluma, California
Would one of you Brits kindly explain just what the heck a "pasty" is?
- D. Harwood, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
If you eat a burger, chances are it's not a healthy option - same goes if you eat a pasty. Get over it! There's no reason why Charlie boy can't make an off-the-cuff remark, even at an event with journalists present, when you could hardly say it amounted to professional libel. McDonald's have wisely reflected this in their response. What would threaten the number of outlets would be if PARENTS didn't give kids access to junk food as a matter of course. And when (and if) they're earning their own cash, they'll soon go to the greengrocers if they fancy a bit of fruit... not a fast-food chain.
- Jonny, London
I love England but I must admit Charles is a nut case. The royalty needs a military leader like his second son, Harry.
- Greg Webber, Clinton
I think that Charles' point is still a valid one. It is not necessarily the calorific value of a food that is the "be all and end all" of a particular situation, it is also the welfare of the animal that should be taken into account. Of course a "pasty" is going to be highly calorific, nobody is saying that such foods should NEVER be eaten, just eaten in moderation.However, if food is produced in an ethical manner and eaten in moderation, then you can pretty much eat what you like.
I never eat McDonalds mainly because I have no idea where the meat is from: however, occasionally, I do eat burgers - I just ensure they are ethically sustainable and are produced from meat that I know is safe and ethical to produce. Yes, it might be more expensive, but I sincerely believe that makes the whole experience of having a wonderful burger that much more enjoyable.
- Scarlett, London
With a name like Wolfie, I guess you would know.
- Frank, Wolverhampton, England
It was an 'off the cuff' remark in the context of kids bringing fast food to school, should be banned - not Big Mac per se (not a bad idea though).
Can't quite recall - do we have the fittest or the fattest kids in Europe?
And you'd have to eat 3 burgers to be as full as a good pasty.
- Wolfie, London, UK
...and all this spat proves, is that it all comes down to freedom of choice and personal responsibility. McDonald's have every right to sell their wares, as does the Prince, but maybe their customers should collectively do a bit more exercise, and a little less sitting around!
- Steve R, London, UK
Talk about hoist by your own petard.
- Squiz, Islington
If you don't like Big Macs, don't eat them. If you think they're bad, encourage others not to eat them. But ban them? Talk about a fascist, nanny state. Anything to extremes isn't good for you; should we ban everything? Charles wants to take away my right to have an occasional Big Mac? Do you really want your daily diet prescribed by Prince Charles or anyone else for that matter?
- R M, London, UK
Prince Charles, fool of a man, needs banning. Long live the Queen!
- Aidan Reid, London
Thing is, is that your more likely to eat his pasties with a plate of vegetables and not some strips of air covered in a glutenous material, that pass as chips and washed done by half a litre of sugar!
- Mark, South-East London
Hearing the Mac people stridently claiming the high moral ground viz their `healthy food' in comparison to Charles' solid track record on all things green brought a bellylaugh.
- Ted, Shetland
Touché! People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
- Marianne, SW France
