Kinder Egg Ban: Two Men Detained At American Border, Faced Possible $15,000 Fine–For Illegal Chocolate
Two Seattle men were stopped at the Canadian border and detained for more than two hours after U.S. border agents found they were smuggling illegal contraband into the country… that just happened to be chocolate Kinder eggs.
The agent discovered a stash of Kinder Eggs, a chocolate egg with a toy inside, that the men said were treats for family and friends. The men, Brandon Loo and Christopher Sweeney, told KOMO News that they picked up the Kinder eggs during a recent visit to Vancouver, British Columbia.
Not aware of their illegal status, the men packed up the chocolate eggs and left for home.
“We packed it in the back of the car because we weren’t going to eat them,” Loo told KOMO News.
When they got to the border, the guards searched the car and discovered found the illegal chocolate eggs.
“He said, ‘Are you aware kinder eggs are illegal in the United States and carry a $2,500 fine per egg?’ And I actually laughed,” Sweeney said.
The eggs, which are coated in chocolate and have a small toy inside, are illegal in the United States because young children can choke on the small parts inside, MyFoxNY.com reported. Importing them can lead to some pretty big fines–$2,500 per egg, one border guard told Sweeney.
Together the men could have faced up to $15,000 in fines, but the border agents let them off with a warning instead. Sweeney told MyFoxNY.com that the whole incident was a big waste of time.
The chocolate eggs are apparently a big deal at the border, U.S. Customers and Border Protection Agency Mike Milne told MyFoxNY.com. Though travelers usually get off without a fine, border agents confiscated close to 60,000 Kinder eggs last year.
“Kinder eggs are prohibited just like narcotics are prohibited,” Milne said. “Our officers, if they encounter prohibited stuff, they’re subject to seizure.”
Tags : Kinder egg, Kinder egg ban, kinder egg border arrest, Kinder eggs illegal, men detained for Kinder eggs
Posted: July 19, 2012
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Jul 19, 2012
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Jul 19, 2012
This is why we ate all the chocolate off our eggs and put them in a plastic box before returning from Germany. LOL Actually we didn't know they were illegal. But it makes sense. Although they are totally awesome for older kids, they are choking hazards. Especially since they are candy. Yummy German chocolate candy…
Jul 19, 2012
I'm amazed that there are any children left alive in Germany or Canada with lethal chocolate eggs so widely available. Or, perhaps is the risk overstated?
Jul 19, 2012
I'm wondering if the border guards are popular at Easter time, after confiscating all those eggs.
Jul 20, 2012
Boo! This is actually a pretty recent ban, since I know you could buy Kinder Eggs in the States just a few years ago. We had a few when we were overseas. I think there's still a tiny hippo around here somewhere…
Jul 20, 2012
Sometimes public health hurts.
Jul 20, 2012
Ferrero is one of the most child freindly company in the world, I love all their products and had them during all my childhood, never heard of anybody choking on Kinder eggs toys in Italy….probably we have smart kids over here!
Jul 31, 2012
This is the most insane law I have ever seen! Do we not have better things to do with our time than ban American children from kinder eggs? Are American children too stupid not to choke on the toys? My children certainly were able to survive their time in Canada even with the scary, illegal Kinder egg…sheesh!
Jul 31, 2012
Holy Cow!! I had no idea those were illegal…
Jul 31, 2012
i heard somone got a big fine for bring them to the usa from canada wow
Jul 31, 2012
Wow… was just talking with someone the other day about this. This person brought them in, not knowing that they were banned. Pretty ridiculous law. By the way, they were delicious and the toys are clever!
Jul 31, 2012
Are you kidding me? I grew up on these things when I lived in Germany. Uh-oh. Please don't tell on my Dad. He brings them home for the grandkids when he travels to Europe. You're right, Karen – stupid.
Aug 15, 2012
Monica, you're wrong. The 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, banned any confectionary product with a non-nutrient object partially or totally embedded in it cannot be sold in the United States.
Aug 20, 2012
This is embarrassing. As an American, this thoroughly embarrasses me.
Aug 30, 2012
I once brought a whole case of these home with me from Germany.
I shared them with my kids and all my co-workers….they were a big hit.
They are no more a choking hazzard than anything you find in the "bumball" machines in ANY store.
So those are illegale as well?
Aug 31, 2012
I remember you brought me a case of these!
Aug 31, 2012
Damn that's right….so I brought 2 cases back to the states….Don't turn me in Sis…..lol
Nov 10, 2012
lol how random ha ha although in the long run prob made by a mum who got sick of her house filling up with the toys (which have got rubbish btw) my kids get atleast 4 kinder eggs a week at 60p each for a poo toy I just bin when they stop playin with it lol.
Dec 17, 2012
Asinine.
Dec 17, 2012
Monica is right. I've bought them in the state as well. And post 1938.
Dec 18, 2012
What about lolly pops then? Paper sticks, plastic sticks, wooden sticks?
Dec 19, 2012
Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't bullets rather dangerous hazard for kids, in more ways than just as a choking hazard?
Feb 17, 2013
I grew up on those kinder eggs considering I am from Germany I am alive and 51 years old my kids have them every so often when we go home in vacation and they are still alive when was this law passed il say it is the parents that need to keep an eye on their children when you give them anything. Anything can be a chocking hazard chicken gum balls tootsie pops what the heck if you believe your child is to small for the toy put it up until you know they won't put it in their mouth duh. It is called good parenting and good judgement
Mar 12, 2013
Stupid country. Carrying a gun is legal but a chocolate is illegal.
Mar 14, 2013
I wasn't aware of this ban, but lol when I was little living in Washington state I'd always go to some Euro markets that sold them
they probably eventually got busted and stopped selling at some point I presume.
Mar 14, 2013
By "them" I meant the Kinder eggs.