When someone first hears about this, they experience undisguised surprise. This fact even amuses many. So, are there any reasonable reasons why Kinder Surprise is banned in the US?
The secret of popularity
Confectionery company Ferrero in 1972 began the production of chocolate eggs containing inside a plastic container with a toy or souvenir. They instantly became megapopular: the first batch literally disappeared from the shelves in the first hour. Since that time, the company has acquired a patent for Kinder Surprises. The sweet shell is made of two-layer chocolate, and the capsule in the middle is yellow. It should resemble the yolk of a real egg.
Each year, the collection is replenished with 100 new toys that are developed by the best world designers. Based on these facts, it is all the more interesting why the Kinder Surprise is banned in the United States.
The peculiarity of this delicacy is the intrigue that it gives to the child. Therefore, probably, everyone in their childhood dreamed of a “Kinder surprise” and terrorized their parents during a trip to the store. In the territory of the former Soviet Union, he appeared in the early 90's. At that time, it was perhaps the most desired gift for a child. What can I say, because adults also bought this curiosity with interest to see what is hidden inside.
Why Kinder Surprise is Banned in the USA: Legal Aspect
America is a country where laws are honored, even the most illogical. For example, in Alaska, live deer cannot be thrown out of an airplane, and in Florida, singing in a bathing suit. And back in 1938, when they did not even hear about Kinder Surprises, a federal law was passed stating that inedible elements should in no way be part of edible products. And here this condition is just not met. This is why Kinder Surprise is banned in the United States. It also turns out that if there were no toys inside, then the chocolate egg itself would be in American stores in the public domain.
Since the USA has case law, there have been many cases when someone choked or choked on inedible objects inside edible ones. And in order to be able to hold confectionery companies accountable, this law was published. Moreover, this rule applies to all states.
Therefore, when the notorious "Kinder" appeared in the world, they automatically got into the list of prohibited products, although the law was not written directly for them. And although this children's treat is freely sold in more than 60 countries, obedient Americans abandoned chocolate eggs with toys in the middle. Well, the law is the law.
Is such a harmless treat?
What is "Kinder" dangerous for a child’s body? The fact that the child may not notice and swallow the elements of toys or even the entire plastic container as a whole. This danger explains why the Kinder Surprise is banned in the United States. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that a chocolate egg consists of two halves, inside of which the same toy is stored. But the child may not understand this, according to the American Food Quality Authority, and will try to swallow it whole. Although there is a paradox, an egg with such a diameter simply cannot fit in a small throat.
Of course, you need to be careful with these toys, because the child can really choke on them if at least one part gets into the respiratory tract. No wonder the packaging has a warning not to give them to children under three years of age.
And caring parents and older children will not be left unattended when they unpack their Kinder. But that’s already, just in case. In general, a three-year-old child can usually distinguish clearly inedible details from the chocolate shell. But when indulging, children often try to put small details into their nose or ears. So it’s better to be on the alert.
Fatal cases
Although children often swallow various small objects, they usually come out naturally and do not bring much harm to the child. But unfortunately, there are cases with a fatal outcome. Since 1991, at least 7 children around the world have choked on toys from Kinder. One of the most notorious cases occurred not in the USA, but in Italy, in the city of Toulouse. In January 2016, a girl aged three and a half years old died of swallowing a toy from Kinder, which blocked her airways. Parents sued the manufacturing company.
Fortunately, there are not so many deaths around the world, but the possibility of death is another argument in favor of why the Kinder Surprise is banned in the United States. The reviews of many mothers indicate that even children over three years old are inclined to try their own toys for the sake of interest, not to mention the babies who master new things for themselves with taste buds in the oral cavity. So there is no doubt that reasonable grain is why Kinder Surprise is banned in the USA. Its danger to young children is confirmed.
Smuggling
Where there is a ban, there are surely those who wish to violate it. So, for example, 60 thousand attempts to smuggle chocolate eggs across the border are recorded annually. Moreover, even a fine of $ 300 for each such illegal unit does not stop smugglers. It turns out that in the US there are many collectors collecting toys from Kinder, and for some of them they are ready to shell out even a few thousand dollars.
Also, the import of wonderful eggs is increasing on the eve of Easter. Even knowing why Kinder Surprise is banned in the US, daredevils are not afraid to take risks for the sake of earning. But there are also many who don’t know about such a law and bring the treasured delicacy as a gift to friends in the open.
The company "Ferrero" found a way out
Still, the situation has recently changed. The manufacturing company took into account US regulatory standards and slightly modified this confectionery product to comply with American requirements.
Firstly, the toy for such "Kinder" is made larger so that the child simply could not physically swallow it. Secondly, protrusions are made in the plastic container, which are visible in the egg with the naked eye, so that it immediately becomes clear to both children and adults that there is something else inside.
So there was a hope that in the near future all American sweet tooths will be able to freely enjoy this mega-popular treat.