FF senator claims sugar tax should not apply to 'aphrodisiac chocolate'

A Fianna Fáil senator who is a director of a chocolate business says she has no problem with the party's plans for a sugar tax, saying chocolate is different because it's an aphrodisiac.

A Fianna Fáil senator who is a director of a chocolate business says she has no problem with the party's plans for a sugar tax, saying chocolate is different because it is an aphrodisiac.

Mary White says she supports any plan to reduce obesity but she doesn't think it will affect her business.

Senator White is the co-founder of Lir Chocolates, which employs 250 people in Ireland. Although White sold her share in the company a few years ago she is still a director.

She says a sugar tax would not apply to chocolate anyway because it's not a typical snack.

"We've got a situation in Ireland where many people are obese and this was predicted about 30 years ago. But chocolate is a different matter. Chocolate is an aphrodesiac," said White.

At ff sme launch mary white says she's in favour of a sugar tax and adds chocolate is an aphrodisiac pic.twitter.com/0PjT7BeX8L

— Martina Fitzgerald (@MartinaFitzg) April 21, 2015