Sydney, Apr 5 : Australian Prime Minister Kevin Michael Rudd''s ill behaviour with a flight stewardess on a VIP flight from the Pacific Islands Forum in Port Moresby in January has been linked to a possible iron deficiency.

Rudd specially took out time from the G-20 summit in London to apologise for blowing up at the woman after he did not receive the non-red-meat meal on the flight, Sydney Morning Herald reported.

"All of us are human, I''m human, I''m not perfect," he said.

However, according to Karen Inge, head of nutrition at the Victorian Institute of Sport, Rudd''s iron deficiency is the reason behind his rude behaviour.

"If you cut down on red meat it can reduce your iron levels. The major role of iron is to carry oxygen in the blood. If you have low oxygen it makes you tired. It''s not rocket science. You only have to look at a child who is tired to see how cranky they are. When you are tired you don''t often react in the best way possible," said Inge.

Opposition agriculture spokesman John Cobb took full advantage of the incident. He said a lack of red meat explained the Prime Minister''s "toddler tantrum" and why he was "as weak as a limp lettuce".

"Without iron in their diet a person will become pale, insipid, wishy-washy, anaemic and prone to outrageous outbursts. A lamb chop or steak would put colour in his cheeks and iron in his soul. If you denied me a chop, I''d have serious anger management issues," said Cobb. (ANI)