People shocked to find out why Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs are banned in the US

Kinder Surprise eggs are banned in the US
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Kinder Surprise eggs are banned in the US
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With Easter just around the corner, a lot of people are buying chocolate. However, Americans will have a hard time finding this particular product in their aisle.

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.

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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?

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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:

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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.
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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.

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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

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