SIR,

To Malcolm French (Beacon 6th November) I say 'shame on you'. As we know, the implication of a cheap, highly processed diet (white bread, burgers, nuggets etc) on a family's health is widely known.

In Latin America, some families working for low wages and eating poor diets, now victims of the obesity and diabetic crisis, struggling to afford the vital medication, find the 'dollar' burger from McDonald's etc the cheap option to feed their children.

Well, they are fighting back. Bolivia is the first Latin American nation to be McDonald's-free. The multinational has closed its eight restaurants and the whisper is that seven other countries will follow.

One blog says 'fast food represents the complete opposite of what Bolivians consider a meal should be, it has to be prepared with love, dedication, certain hygiene standards and of course the freshest ingredients one can afford'.

From a vegan point of view, what about the millions of animals reared in appalling conditions to create fast foods?

My advice to Malcolm: Think about your own health and the health of the younger generation of Monmouth. Set an example, prepare your own tea.

There's nothing wrong with fast food, how about the trusted stand-by beans on toast?

Prepared with high fibre wholemeal bread, eaten with a dish of broccoli, you have a completely balanced, healthy (vegan) meal in under 10 minutes.

Your wife might appreciate some, too.

This is the nearest to fast food I have ever given my own grand-children. They love it, but then they adore brussel sprouts, too.

Anne Berardi, née Hunt

(Monmouth)