Not all eggs are created equal in the eyes of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Kinder Eggs, a popular European chocolate egg that contains a toy inside, is banned from importation into the United States because it contains a "non-nutritive object embedded in it."
With the Easter holiday around the corner, the agency issued the reminder this week, warning that the candy is considered unsafe for children under 3. Last year, Customs and Border Protection seized 25,000 of them in 1,700 incidents.
The hollow egg, which is sold by the Italian confectioner Ferrero, is available in Europe, Canada, Australia and parts of Latin America under various names including Kinder Surprise and Kinder Sorpresa. It has taken on a cult status among adults who collect the toys, which vary from rings to animals and cartoon characters.
Kinder Eggs' scarcity in the United States has made them an object of desire: Various websites and online forums are dedicated to acquiring them.
Some are apparently hiding in plain sight. Earlier this week, DNAinfo.com, a New York City neighborhood guide, posted a story and slideshow showing stores where the coveted treats can be found.
"While there are some commercial-sized seizures that occur, most Kinder Eggs are seized in personal baggage or at mail and express consignment facilities," Customs and Border Protection said.
A Canadian woman reportedly learned her lesson the hard way.
The woman was selected for a random search at a border checkpoint in Minnesota when officials discovered she was carrying a Kinder Egg and took it from her, The Toronto Star reported.
A few weeks later, she received a 7-page letter asking if she wanted the egg back or if she was going to abandon rights to it, the Star reported.
"I was in disbelief," she told the newspaper. "It's a $2 egg."
Wait...... so why aren't Fortune Cookies banned? Isn't the fortune inside no nutritive?
Wow!
I've been collecting the inside toys for over 15 years and still can't believe they won't allow the eggs in the U.S. You should see the warning labels they come with which are written in quite a few different languages. I'm glad Ferrero won't compromise the product and produce it in a "U.S. friendly" way.
I lolled
That would mean that corn dogs must also be banned... how dumb.
NEVER!!! You can take away my guns, right to vote, and all liberties, but NEVER take away my corn dog!!! What would there be worth living for?!
So now our border patrols are on an egg hunt. Another waste of our tax dollars.
RFL my head off. both at this ridiculous restriction and the hilarious comments from people. Got my laugh for the day. Now I will go eat some olives and fortune cookies....oops i swallowed my mouse.... squeak
aaaah yes, the greatest country on earth!!
Anyone with a brain would know that you shouldn't give them to young children. That's why they have warnings on them! I think it's pretty ridiculous that they aren't allowed in the US.
So let me get this straight, kinder eggs are illegal and not allowed past our border, but ILLEGAL immigrants are okay and allowed to pass.
but of course.... why would we do anything sensible/??? like enforce the real laws of this country.
Seriously??? The candy from my childhood banned?
I am not sure how this is different from a fortune cookie? It has non-nutritive paper inside. ahhh my tax dollars at work:)
Jinx!
But fortune cookies are ok?
Another stupid law to protect me from me.
Shh, don't give them ideas.
Well, I guess that's it for the file-in-the-cake trick for prisoners. 🙁
Don't let Kinder egss in but let's have guns on campuses.... The irony.