Safe Food Campaign, The Green Party, the Parents' Centre and Mäori Womens Welfare League present

The New Zealand Children's Food Awards

McDonald's dominates NZ Children's Food Awards

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McDonald's has emerged as a leading contender in the second New Zealand Children's Food Awards, whose shortlist was announced at a ceremony at Parliament on 17 January.

This year's awards, coordinated by Green MP Sue Kedgley, concentrate on the exploitative marketing of unhealthy food and drink to children.

"The health of our children is being out at risk by the relentless targeting of unhealthy food to children as young as two," Ms Kedgley, Green Safe Food spokesperson, said.

"Already our children are among the fattest in the world, with 31 percent obese or overweight. This means many of our children are, literally, eating themselves into an early grave."

The shortlist was drawn up by a seven-person judging panel - including Alison White and Jacky Pearson from the Safe Food Campaign, a GP, a dietician, former athletes John Walker and Allison Roe, and Tum Glover of the Maori Welfare League - from a pool of nominations sent in by Kiwi parents who belong to the Parents Centre and the Safe Food Campaign.

McDonald's has been shortlisted for four of the awards' seven categories. Parents criticised the fast-food company for exploitatively marketing its high-fat food to children by using sports star endorsements, toys in Happy Meals, saturation television advertising, and school sponsorship programmes. However, the company was also shortlisted for the "Cleaning Up the Food Chain" award for introducing healthier options on its menu.

Ms Kedgley said the awards gave credit where it was due.

"Getting companies to improve the food they offer is one of the aims of the awards."

Mainland Organic Cheese, Pam's, and Watties/Heinz were also nominated for providing children with some healthier food options.

Ms Kedgley said the judging panel is challenging food companies to join the fight to improve New Zealand children's health.

"If we are serious about improving the health of New Zealand children and tackling the obesity epidemic, then manufacturers have to start reformulating their products to reduce the salt, sugar, and fat in them, and to stop targeting children with exploitative marketing strategies.

"These awards send a challenge to those manufacturers shortlisted - including McDonalds, Kellogg's, Coca-Cola, Bluebird and Cadbury - that it is no longer socially acceptable to manipulate the minds and damage the health of our children."

Voting closes Friday 15 April and winners will be announced at a ceremony at Parliament at the end of April.