The jury, unveiled this week by the Food Commission, aims to put children's food and food advertising on trial. Members of the jury will vote on awards including the High Five award for the best promotion of fruit and vegetables to children.

'We know that parents feel strongly about children's food and the way children's food is advertised,' said jury co-ordinator and nutritionist Annie Seeley. 'they find that most of it ishigh in fat, salt, sugar or additives and that food manufacturers use dubious techniques to market it. But parents don't know who to complain to. The Parents' Jury is a chance for them to say what they think.' Parents of children aged two to 16 are invited to join the jury and the commission will then use the jury's comments and suggestions to urge food advertisers, the government and manufacturers to improve children's food.

Other awards will go for pester power to the marketing technique that most encourages children to nag their parents for junk food; for the product that best helps steer youngsters away from developing a sweet tooth; and one for the food that relies most on artificial additives for its child-appeal.