Ridge said she was thrilled with the win, which, in part, followed feature stories published on intensive farming. “It recognises the fact, if the food media of the world don't air uncomfortable issues like the cruelty of factory farming of animals, then possibly nobody will,” she said.

The awards are a culmination of Tasting Australia, a biennial food festival. They acknowledge excellence across a broad range of publishing and broadcasting on food and drink in books, magazines, newspapers, television, internet websites, guide books and photography.