Why Kinder Surprise is banned in the US: interesting facts

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

When someone hears about it for the first time, they are undisguisedly surprised. Many people find this fact amusing. So, is there any reasonable reason why Kinder Surprise is banned in the US?

The secret of popularity

The confectionery company "Ferrero" in 1972 began the production of chocolate eggs containing a plastic container inside with a toy or souvenir. They instantly became mega-popular: 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.

Every year the collection is replenished with 100 new toys, which are developed by the world's best designers. Based on these facts, it is all the more interesting why Kinder Surprise is banned in the US.

The peculiarity of this delicacy lies in the intrigue that it gives to the child. Therefore, probably, everyone dreamed in childhood"Kinder-surprise" and terrorized parents during a trip to the store. It appeared on the territory of the former Soviet Union in the early 90s. At that time it was perhaps the most desirable gift for a child. What can I say, because adults also bought this wonder with interest to see what was hidden inside.

Why Kinder Surprise is banned in the US: legal aspect

America is a country where laws are respected, even the most illogical ones. For example, in Alaska you can't throw a live deer out of an airplane, and in Florida you can't sing in a bathing suit. And back in 1938, when Kinder Surprises were never heard of, a federal law was issued stating that inedible elements should in no case be part of edible products. And here this condition is just not met. That's why Kinder Surprise is banned in the US. It also turns out that if there were no toys inside, then the chocolate egg itself would be freely available in American stores.

Since there is case law in the US, there have been many cases of someone choking or choking on inedible items inside edible ones. And in order to be able to hold confectionery companies accountable, they issued this law. Moreover, this rule applies to all states.

Therefore, when the notorious "Kinders" appeared in the world, they automatically entered the list of prohibited products, although the law was not written specifically for them. And though it's childishthe delicacy is freely sold in more than 60 countries of the world, obedient Americans have abandoned chocolate eggs with toys in the middle. Well, the law is the law.

Is this a harmless treat?

Why is Kinder dangerous for the 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 Kinder Surprise is banned in the US. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the chocolate egg consists of two halves, inside of which the same toy is stored. But a child may not understand this, according to the US Food and Drug Administration, and will try to swallow the whole thing. Although there is a certain paradox here, because an egg with such a diameter simply does not fit in a small throat.

Of course, you need to be careful with these toys, because a child can really choke on them if at least one part gets into the respiratory tract. No wonder the package warns not to give them to children under the age of three.

And caring parents and an older child will not be left unattended when he unpacks his Kinder. But that's the way it is, just in case. In general, a three-year-old child can usually distinguish clearly inedible details from a chocolate shell. But while indulging, children often try to put small details in their noses or ears. So better be on the lookout.

Deaths

Although children very often swallow various smallobjects, they usually come out naturally and do not bring much harm to the child. But unfortunately, there are also cases with a fatal outcome. Since 1991, at least 7 children worldwide have choked on Kinder toys. One of the most notorious cases occurred not in the United States, but in Italy, in the city of Toulouse. In January 2016, a three-and-a-half-year-old girl died after swallowing a Kinder toy that was blocking her airway. Parents sued the manufacturing company.

Fortunately, there are not so many deaths around the world, but still the possibility of a fatal outcome is another argument in favor of why Kinder Surprise is banned in the USA. Reviews of many mothers indicate that even children older than three years old tend to try their toys on the tooth for the sake of interest, not to mention babies who master all new objects with the taste buds of the oral cavity. So there is no doubt that there is a reasonable grain in why Kinder Surprise is banned in the USA. Its danger to young children has been confirmed.

Smuggling

Where there is a ban, there will definitely be those who want to break it. So, for example, 60,000 attempts to smuggle chocolate eggs across the border are recorded annually. Moreover, even a $300 fine for each such illegal unit does not stop smugglers. It turns out that there are quite a few collectors in the US who collect Kinder toys, and for some of them they are even ready to shell out several thousand dollars.

Also, the import of miracle 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 making money. But there are also many who do not know about such a law and openly bring the treasured delicacy as a gift to friends.

Ferrero found a way out

Still, the situation has changed recently. The manufacturing company took into account US regulations and slightly modified this confection to meet US requirements.

Firstly, the toy for such "Kinders" is made larger so that the child simply cannot physically swallow it. Secondly, the plastic container has protrusions that are visible in the egg with the naked eye, so that both children and adults immediately understand that there is something else inside.

So there was hope that in the near future, all American sweet teeth will be able to freely enjoy this mega-popular delicacy.