Carter's KFC meal row

Chris Carter

There's no such thing as a free lunch. Just ask Conservation Minister Chris Carter. Health groups are crying foul after the Labour MP turned up to the grand opening bash of KFC's new Te Atatu restaurant - and then agreed to be photographed tucking into a bucket of the high-fat fast food.

Carter thought he was just doing his duty as local MP by attending Friday's big knees-up - but the decision has ruffled the feathers of health groups who say he has seriously damaged the credibility of the Government's new $76 million campaign to fight obesity.

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world with a report out this year showing that more than half the population is now classified as overweight or obese.

Carter told the Herald on Sunday he wanted to make it clear he had only attended the opening because it was a new business in Te Atatu that was providing employment opportunities for locals.

While there, he had made a point of actively promoting the Government's new anti-obesity initiatives and the need for healthy eating.

He rubbished suggestions his presence at the opening would be seen as an endorsement for KFC.

However, Fight the Obesity Epidemic spokeswoman Robyn Toomath claimed Carter was being politically naive.

Whether Carter liked it or not, KFC and its marketing experts would use his attendance at the opening as a way of trying to prove the Government supported the fast-food chain.

"These types of photo opportunities are incredibly valuable to the industry. The pairing [of Carter and KFC] gives huge credibility to their product."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY