Angus Kennedy, Professional Chocolate Taster, Forced to Quit Dream Job After Health Scare

Health Scare Forces Professional Chocolate Taster To Quit Dream Job

In recent years, news of Angus Kennedy's seemingly perfect job made headlines around the globe. The 47-year-old resident of Maidstone, Kent in the UK had served as editor for candy trade publication Kennedy's Confection for nearly 20 years. He was also its primary chocolate taster since 2010, which meant consuming up to two pounds of chocolate daily.

But after ballooning up to 189 pounds, the 5'10" Kennedy had no choice but to resign, for the sake of his health.

Kennedy told The Telegraph that although the job seemed like a "Golden Ticket" he was forced to reconsider when his cholesterol rose to dangerous levels.

"The only problem with eating chocolate from 9 to 5, of course, is the predictable weight gain and high cholesterol.

"In the last couple of years, I've put on some considerable weight and a recent check-up showed my arteries were far from fighting fit.

"It was with regret that I stepped down from the magazine to concentrate on a less harmful - but certainly less sweet - career."

Despite the recentness of Kennedy's departure, it's clear from combing through years of news articles that he was always aware of the risk his job posed.

In 2010, Kennedy admitted to Small World News Service that he visited his dentist once every month and closely watches his consumption of other foods, for fear of putting on weight.

The same year, Kennedy spoke to multimedia company KM Group about a chocolate product that a consumer smells rather than tastes called Le Whif. The point of it, Kennedy explained, was to allow someone the experience of chocolate without the negative consequences of eating it.

Regardless of whether it would have helped Kennedy maintain his waistline, temptation for the real thing might be too much for him. The product, he tells the camera with a laugh, he "thought was quite ridiculous."

Watch Kennedy talk about his dream job back before things went awry.

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