Kinder Surprise eggs have been enjoyed by children (and adults!) all over the UK since the famous chocolate company Ferrero launched the egg in 1974. Surprisingly, you won't find any of them in American supermarkets for Easter. As President Biden asks for better gun regulation laws in the US, several people have compared guns with Kinder Surprise eggs, highlighting the irony of being able to legally purchase a riffle but not a chocolate egg.
Discover our latest podcast
America has banned Kinder Surprise chocolates because the small pieces of the toys inside are dangerous for small children… America, you know what else is dangerous for small children?… Going to Fkn school!!! #NashvilleCovenantSchool
— RayCapogreco (@RayJCapo79) March 29, 2023
A dangerous chocolate-covered weapon?
Kinder Surprise eggs are banned in the US, and it is illegal to import them, too. So beware if you've got the chocolate-covered supposed weapon in your suitcase! So why is a piece of chocolate banned, you might ask?
‘You guys have banned semi automatic guns? Man your country sucks. In America we have freedom!’
— Jeremy (@nz_voter) March 24, 2019
‘Hmmm, really?’ *peels the wrapper off a kinder surprise egg*
‘Hey, what’s that?’
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) follows the 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which dictates that any food with a 'non-nutritive object embedded' is banned in the US, and the famous Kinder Surprise yellow capsule containing children's toys is no exception.
Read more:Brits warned to not pack these items on holiday, or risk fines up to $100,000
Kinder Surprise egg on the black market
In 2011, the US Customs and Border Protection seized more than 60,000 Kinder Surprise eggs that were supposed to be discreetly smuggled into the country. At the time, a spokesperson for Ferrero said:
Kinder Surprise is not available in the United States as the [FDA] has taken the position that a specific regulation relating to non-nutritive objects embedded in food stuff makes Kinder Surprise not suitable for sale and distribution in the US.
AMERICA : Where you can’t have a beer until your 21, but you CAN get an AR-15 for your 18th birthday.
— Heath (@LeastHesFunny_) May 25, 2022
AMERICA : Where your kids can’t buy a Kinder Surprise, but they CAN be target practice for a madman who just bought an automatic weapon.
AMERICA : Broken#EnoughIsEnough
Although it is impossible to buy Kinder Surprise eggs in the US, you can still enjoy them in neighbouring Canada and Mexico. But be careful not to bring them back into the country, as you could be fined up to $2,500 for each egg.
Read more:These popular chocolate bars contain dangerous heavy metals, as per study
Are American children deprived of Kinder chocolate altogether?
Good news for American kids! In 2018, Ferrero launched its new brand called Kinder Joy, a chocolate egg made specifically for 'warm weather markets'. It is important to note that this product does not include the toy-filled yellow capsule, which makes it suitable for the US market.
The new egg is divided in half: one part is actually chocolate, and the other contains the toy, away for any edible bits.
Read more:Everything You Need To Know About Easter
Sources used:
Metro.co.uk: Why are Kinder Surprise eggs banned in the US?
Factschology: Why Kinder Surprise Eggs are Illegal in the U.S.
Evening Standard: Kinder eggs go back on sale in the US - almost 50 years after they were banned
