英國王儲查爾斯2月27日訪問阿拉伯聯合酋長國時呼吁禁止銷售麥當勞快餐，稱這種做法是幫助人們實現健康飲食的一大關鍵。此言一出立即引發了廣泛爭議，麥當勞公司的一名發言人回應稱，“英國王儲的這番談話令人失望”， 他表示麥當勞從去年開始已經著手改善菜單，并在菜單上標示餐點的營養成分。但一些普通民眾認為查爾斯的呼吁不無道理。

Britain's Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales seems to be reluctant to taste a plate of grilled salmon, during a visit with the Duchess of Cornwall to the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates while on a tour of the Gulf region,Tuesday Feb 27, 2007. Fast food chain McDonald's said it was disappointed to be criticised by the Prince of Wales Tuesday, after he appeared to suggest banning its food was the 'key' to improving diet and fitness.(AP Photo/ John Stillwell, PA)

Prince Charles suggested Tuesday on a visit to the United Arab Emirates that banning McDonald's fast food was crucial for improving people's diets, a British news agency reported.

Charles made the comments while visiting the Imperial College LondonDiabetes Centerin Abu Dhabi for the launch of a public health campaign, The Press Association reported.

"Have you got anywhere with McDonald's? Have you tried getting it banned? That's the key," Charles was quoted as asking one of the center's nutritionists.

A McDonald's spokesman, Nick Hindle, called the remark disappointing. He said other members of the royal family "have probably got a more up-to-date picture of us," alluding to reports that Charles' son, Prince Harry, was spotted eating a chicken burger at McDonald's in 2005.

"This appears to be anoff-the-cuffremark, in our opinion," Hindle said. "It does not reflect our menu or where we are as a business."

The Oak Brook, Illinois-based McDonald's Corp. took steps last year to display nutrition facts on its packaging and vary its menu to counter charges that its food is unhealthy and contributes to obesity. There are 25 McDonald's franchises in the United Arab Emirates.

Charles, who is first in line to the British throne, is an active advocate oforganic foodand in 1986 set up a farm on his Highgrove Estate that does not use artificial pesticides or fertilizers.

The prince was in the United Arab Emirates with his wife, Camilla, as part of a tour of Gulf countries.

The United Arab Emirates has the world's second highest number of diabetes cases per capita, with more than 20 percent of those aged 20 to 79 already diagnosed with the illness, while 40 percent of the population are at risk.

（chinadaily.com.cn）   

Vocabulary:    

Diabetes Center: 糖尿病治療中心

off the cuff: in an extemporaneous or informal manner（即席地，非正式地）

organic food: 有機食品

（英語點津陳蓓編輯）