are kinder eggs really banned in the US?

[Stella_w 0]

hi, not sure where to post this, but my future mother-in-law loves those kinder eggs, so I'd like to bring her some since apparently she can't find them in the US. But I have read on news/forums here that Kinder eggs can be confiscated by customs and you can get a fine, but I know my fiance's parents have brought Kinder eggs into the US from their vacation without any problem...so do they really check it or is it just an outdated rule that no one really follows?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yes, really banned.

[HK12 273]

I know of people who tried to send Surprise Eggs from Germany to the U.S., and the eggs always got taken out of the packages by US customs. I believe this is because the U.S. states that toys inside of food (the chocolate) are dangerous and a choking hazard (huh, I ate that stuff during all of my childhood, and I am still alive!). I think there is now a New Jersey based company that produces eggs similar to Kinder Surprise eggs, but I do not know if they're any good.

Before I came to the States, I'd never thought that Surprise Eggs might be considered a dangerous good that Americans must be protected from (while they're all hoarding guns in their bedrooms, lol! ), but I guess you never stop learning.

Edited September 27, 2013 by HK12

[JRF 117]

Perhaps the domestic competition to kinder eggs has a powerful lobby...in any event trying to sneak in food and vegetables that are banned is foolish, unless you want to run the very real risk of spending a long time while your luggage is emptied in full view of a room full of people waiting to get thru customs...something about the dogs and really serious looking guys with guns is enough to keep me from trying to sneak in someone's favorite food.

[Stella_w 0]

thanks for all your replies.

I just thought this rule was weird, plus fiance's mom said she just stocked up some last year when she returned from holiday, so I assumed it's pretty relaxed...well guess I'll just eat all those chocolate eggs myself then, no complaints here

[Shiobhan 235]

Banned foods & plants can cause a fine especially if U R a regular

traveler & did not disclosed it coming in, for those just visiting it can

translate to a visa being revoked or non renewal...idea is if u disguise

one thing U may disguise another such as as in drugs.

[christeen 966]

True... They are not permitted... I have however brought a few back ( dogs not trained to sniff out chocolate)... They are banned for safety concerns not for the actual food item. If they press the issue, they can issue fines (although unlikely unless you are bringing in suitcases full of kinder eggs or if you have a lot of customs violations)... However, the usual course of action would be confiscation... I also heard of a case from my friend where they made her crack the eggs and remove the toy (but she had the big chocolate Easter eggs from Italy)... She went home with a ziplock full of chocolate...