Seldom has a simple candy caused so much joy and so much frustration at the same time. German Kinder Eggs were such a HUGE part of my childhood. We loved getting those fabulous eggs made from smooth and sweet Kinder Chocolate, and as a bonus, there was a capsule inside containing a cute little toy that we could put together! But that toy was the problem. That toy is why Kinder Surprise Eggs are banned in the US. I’ve done a bit of research into German Kinder Eggs and have eaten quite a few (it was a hardship, but somehow I managed), and now I want to share with you all about Kinder Candy eggs, including whether you can buy Kinder Eggs online, and what the difference is between Kinder Surprise Eggs and Kinder Joy Eggs, and I answer the question, are Kinder Eggs illegal in the US?
(note- I took these photos while I was in Germany. I would never blatantly break the law by importing Kinder Eggs and then flaunt it on my website. And since we ate the evidence, there is no proof anyway)
What are Kinder Eggs? And Why are they a Big Deal?
Kinder Eggs History
Let’s start with a bit of history. Although Kinder Schokolade is WILDLY popular in Germany, Kinder Chocolate is made by Ferrero, the same company that makes Rocher, an Italian Company. The founder of Ferrero, Michael Ferrero, thought it would be an excellent idea to develop a small egg with a toy inside similar to those given out at Easter in Italian families. It took a while to work out how to make the molds, but in 1974, the first Kinder Surprise Eggs landed on the market. They were a hit! Especially in Germany. Since Kinder Chocolate is marketed as a special chocolate made with extra milk, the Surprise Eggs appealed to mothers and were sold year-round.
What are Kinder Surprise Eggs
A Kinder Surprise Egg (in German- Kinder Überraschungs-Ei) is a hollow chocolate egg about the size of a large hen’s egg. Inside the chocolate layer is a milky layer (it looks like white chocolate). In the hollow of the Kinder Surprise Eggs, you will find a yellow plastic capsule (resembling the yolk) that contains a small toy. The TOY is where the fun really gets started. Most require a bit of assembly, and with thousands available, kids and adults love collecting these treasures.
Kinder Surpise Eggs Come in Different Series
Some Kinder Eggs come marked so that you can pick what sort of prize you want to get. Eggs might have a pink girl label or a blue boy label. You can find Disney Kinder Joy Eggs or Mattel Kinder Joy Eggs. Kinder Surprise Eggs come in Series to make the toys easier to collect (like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). They even have special event eggs, currently the Safiras and Wilde Katzen eggs, which have two toys in each egg!!
There are 3 Kinder Surprise Egg Sizes!
I was delighted as a child when I found that Kinder Surprise Eggs come in BIGGER sizes. The largest is about the size of an Ostrich Egg!! The middle size is right in the middle of big and little. Like their little cousins, the bigger eggs have toys inside (so they are still banned in the US). The toys are bigger and more impressive. In the middle size, we’ve found painting sets, markers, and figures who do the coloring. I’ve only opened one big one (it was 14€, so I only bought one) and it had a Hello Kitty play set inside.
Are Kinder Eggs Illegal in the USA?
I wish I had a nickel for every time someone asked why Kinder Eggs are illegal in the USA. The truth is Kinder SURPRISE Eggs are banned from US markets. Let me explain. In the 1930s, the Food and Drug Administration passed a law that “prohibits confectionery products which contain a ‘non-nutritive object,’ unless the non-nutritive object has functional value. Essentially, the Act bans “the sale of any candy that has embedded in it a toy or trinket.” Too many kids were choking on toys in food. Because the chocolate contains a capsule that is a potential hazard, the surprise eggs are a no-no. Yes, they are legal in Canada and Mexico. Yes, you will occasionally find them in shops here in the USA, probably imported by people who either don’t know (or care about) the law. I will not tell you not to buy or smuggle them from Germany (or Canada) home to the US. Be aware that there is a heavy fine if you happen to run into a Customs official who disapproves (I’ve read the fine runs from $300 to $2500 per egg).
Kinder JOY Eggs were recently introduced to the market and are quite legal in the US since candy and toy separated.
All of the Kinder Egg toys have small parts, so they probably shouldn’t be given to children under 3 years old. But as the UK Department of Trade and Industry said after investigating the choking death of an English child, “The child’s tragic death was caused by the ingestion of a small part of the egg’s contents. Many other products and toys with small parts are available in the market place. If we were to start banning every product that could be swallowed by a child, there would be very few toys left in the market”.
So, there you are, everything you need to know about the legality of Kinder Eggs.
Buy Kinder Surprise Eggs Online
I found these Kinder Surprise Eggs and gift boxes online!
Huevito Kinder Sorpresa Maxi Jumbo (Niña y Niño)
Kinder chocolate gift box/heart/bouquet, made by hand
You CAN Buy Kinder Surprise Eggs Toys
Not so surprising, Kinder Surprise Eggs Toys are popular with Adults, Teens as well as Children. (One of my favorite Berlin memories was watching a couple of Teens on the U-Bahn comparing the toys they found in their eggs!). The toys are perfectly legal to have here in the USA… and many people collect them (I saw the biggest collection at the Chocolate Museum in Cologne). You can buy opened and vintage toys, as well as closed capsules… These would make a great gift for a collector.
Vintage 1990’s Kinder Surprise ToysFerrero Kinder Surprise Holiday 1992 года Happy Hippo HolidayVintage Kinder Surprise Toy Lot Of 22 Toys
What are the Kinder Surprise Egg Toys?
In the name of science (and curiosity) we opened up the three different sizes of eggs, just to see what you find inside (and they were delicious)
This is the Regular-sized Kinder Surprise Egg
This is the egg we all know and love… It’s about the size of a hen’s egg.
The Middle Sized Kinder Surprise Egg
This egg was produced at Christmastime (it’s been bunkered) I’m not sure if you could get it year round. It’s about 5 inches long.
The Kinder Easter Egg LARGE!
Sold at Easter, the Kinder Easter Egg is a much bigger than the others (about the size of an Ostrich egg!).
Or fill your own…
Giant personalised Surprise egg
What are Kinder JOY Eggs?
The Kinder JOY Eggs are a newer development. Instead of a plastic capsule inside a hollow egg, the chocolate egg is packaged to come apart in 2 halves. One side contains a chocolate shell filled with milky chocolately cream and two wafer balls. (You get a little spoon to eat the cream) The OTHER side has a toy. Purists are less thrilled with this version… but it exists for safety reasons.
Kinder Joy Treat + Easter Spring Toys Sweet Creme Cocoa Wafer, 12 EggsKinder Joy Eggs
In all honesty, my kids were less thrilled with Kinder Joy (not exactly overjoyed, so to say). They like the chocolate in Kinder Surprise… but every kid is different.
See them in action HERE
Kinder Egg Holders!
Want to Gift Kinder Eggs in a Special Way? These absolutely ADORABLE Kinder Egg Holders make the Kinder Surprise Eggs AND the Kinder Joy Eggs even more fun!
Cute Digital Downloads
Just download the file, print and cut out your own paper egg holder!
Dragon. Digital Download Cutting Files – fcm and svg. (Suitable for Kinder Surprise, Kinder JOY and Creme Egg – not included!)Unicorn Digital Download Cutting Files. fcm and svg. Suitable for Kinder JOY, Kinder Surprise and Creme Egg Sized confectioneryPenguin Kinder surprise chocolate holder with shut eyes and open eyesElephant Kinder Surprise chocolate holders
Wooden Holders
Bring these out every year and fill up with eggs!
Personalized Easter Egg, Kinder Joy Creme Holder Decoration, Bunny Treat Kinder Hunt Gifts Kid Boy Girl, Baby Easter Bunny GiftsKinder Egg HolderBunny Easter Wooden Kinder Egg Holder
Now go out… and enjoy some Kinder EGGS!
Thank you for “unwrapping” the mystery! I’d always wondered why Italian markets had a more varied selection of Kinder eggs than here in Bavaria come Easter time; I hadn’t realized that Kinder is a subsidiary of an Italian company. Now I know where to go for the best surprise eggs!
Is there ANY way possible to get the original Kinder eggs shipped to me for personal consumption in the USA? I am utterly disappointed in the Kinder Joy line of Kinder chocolates available.
I totally understand. Unfortunately, the only way to get them is if you know someone in Germany who will send them to you. I don’t know of any company who will do it
But they’re not German, right? They’re Italian. They are sold everywhere in the world. I grew up in Argentina and they were part of my childhood. The new Joy eggs are too sweet, I hate them! Can’t believe they’re still illegal in the US. So friggin ridiculous…
It was a stupid decision of US government for banning Kinder Surprise As I am Asian most people in USA are demanding for Kinder Surprise is legal in USA but 8 out of 10 Americans do not like Kinder Joy because these people are disappointed I am walking for Kinder Surprise that i was bought it
well… they didn’t target the Kinder Surprise… they made the rule in the 1930s
But yes, it is a tough one to swallow here in the US.
The last time I went to Europe, I didn’t realize they were illegal in the U.S. until someone at the Dublin airport told me. There I was, eating chocolate until my stomach just about burst, so I didn’t waste any, just to bring the toys home. On my next trip, I’ll be bringing ziploc bags to tote the candy in after opening.
oh no! but that’s a good solution.