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Kinder Surprise

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Kinder Surprise
Product typeChocolate egg
OwnerFerrero SpA
Introduced17 February 1974; 50 years ago (1974-02-17)
Websitekinder.com/sorpresa

Kinder Surprise (Italian: Kinder Sorpresa or Ovetto Kinder),[a] also known as Kinder Egg[1][2] or Kinder Surprise Egg,[2][3][4] is a milk chocolate consisting of a chocolate egg surrounding a yellow plastic capsule with a small toy inside. Manufactured by the Italian company Ferrero since 1974, it was co-created by Michele Ferrero and William Salice, and is one of several candies sold under the Kinder brand. Kinder Surprise was originally created with children in mind, replicating an Italian Easter family tradition in which adults give children large chocolate eggs with toys inside. However, Kinder Surprise toys have become collectible for adults as well. Since 1974, 30 billion Kinder Surprise eggs have been sold worldwide.

Description

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Kinder Surprise is a milk chocolate egg lined with a layer of sweet milk-flavoured cream.[5][6][7] Inside each egg is a plastic capsule that contains a small surprise toy, which sometimes requires assembly.[3][8][9] The capsule case is colored yellow and sometimes orange, to resemble an egg's yolk.[10][11] The chocolates have foil packaging with warning labels advising parents to avoid giving the eggs to children under three years old and encouraging supervision during consumption.[8][12]

Kinder Surprise was originally created with children in mind,[13] replicating an Italian Easter family tradition in which adults give children a large chocolate egg with a toy inside.[14] However, Kinder Surprise toys have become collectible for adults as well.[3] Collectors often try to acquire all toys within a themed set. Some even share their egg openings on social media,[15] or create their own toys and re-wrap them in Kinder Surprise packaging.[16] More than 100 new toys are distributed each year.[15] Around 12,000 different toys had been included within Kinder Surprise as of 2016.[17]

According to CNNMoney, Kinder Surprise is most popular in Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom.[9] Michele Ferrero and William Salice have been credited as co-creators of the candy.[18][19]

History

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The Italian and Spanish logo
The German version of the first Kinder Surprise logo

In 1968, Michele Ferrero raised the idea with his employees of a product that could be given to children so they could have a little "surprise" every day, based on the Italian tradition of large chocolate eggs given to children by their parents at Easter.[17] Ferrero said that at first his attempt to follow through with this idea was unsuccessful after employees questioned the order he placed for a machine to make the chocolate eggs. They thought it would not make any money, since eggs are only for Easter.[20] Ferrero also said that he wanted the product to have a higher milk content and make that a key part of its promotion; he believed mothers would respond well to the idea of giving their children more milk.[20] Ferrero commissioned William Salice to realize the concept.[17]

The Italian company Ferrero began manufacturing Kinder Surprises in 1974.[8][14][21] Since then around 30 billion eggs have been sold worldwide.[15][22][23]

Salice, who has been credited as the inventor of Kinder Surprise but insisted he was just "material executor",[18][19] died in Italy in December 2016, at the age of 83.[19]

Collections and promotion

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The toys within Kinder Surprise have been themed for various popular licensed characters. Collections of Kinder Surprise toys have included Asterix, Fantomimi, Smurfs,[24] and Minions.[17][25] Ferrero and Kinder have also partnered with various companies, institutions, and people to promote Kinder Surprise, including The Walt Disney Company,[26] Universal,[27] and Smart.[28]

Safety concerns

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United Kingdom

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In 2000, three families who had lost children to choking on toys inside edible eggs campaigned for the products to be withdrawn from the European Union.[29]

Defenders of the chocolates said that these had been unfortunate fatalities. This was discussed in the House of Commons[30][31][32] and also by the Department of Trade and Industry which said, "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".[33]

United States

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A 1938 law, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, prohibits confectionery products that contain a "non-nutritive object", unless the non-nutritive object has functional value.[34] Essentially, the Act bans "the sale of any candy that has embedded in it a toy or trinket".[35]

In 1997, the staff of the Consumer Product Safety Commission examined and issued a recall for some Kinder Surprise illegally brought into the US with foreign labels.[36] The staff determined that the toys within the eggs had small parts. The staff presumed that Kinder Surprise, being a chocolate product, was intended for children of all ages, including those under three years of age. On this basis, the staff took the position that Kinder Surprise was in violation of the small parts regulation and should be banned from importation into the US.[36]

Kinder Surprise eggs are legal in Canada and Mexico, but are illegal to import into the US. In January 2011, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) threatened a Manitoba resident with a 300 Canadian dollar fine for carrying one egg across the US border into Minnesota.[37] In June 2012, CBP held two Seattle men for two and a half hours after discovering six Kinder Surprise eggs in their car upon returning to the US from a trip to Vancouver. According to Joseph Cummings of Seattle, Washington, one of the men detained, a border guard quoted the potential fine as "$2,500 per egg".[38]

In 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) re-issued their import alert stating "The embedded non-nutritive objects in these confectionery products may pose a public health risk as the consumer may unknowingly choke on the object".[39]

Kinder Surprise bears warnings advising the consumer that the toy is "not suitable for children under three years, due to the presence of small parts", and that "adult supervision is recommended".[40]

As of 2017 Kinder Joy eggs, a similar product, are being sold in the United States. Instead of a toy being encased in a chocolate egg, it is in an egg-shaped plastic package with the toy and chocolate separated. Kinder Surprise eggs are still illegal in the USA, but remain popular on the black market.[41][42]

The chocolate content of the Kinder Surprise and Kinder Joy is what differentiates them. Kinder Joy has a spoon to eat a creme inside, while Kinder Surprise is two-layer chocolate--milk chocolate on the outside and white chocolate on the inside.[43]

Chile

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In 2016, new food labeling and packaging laws resulted in Chile banning the Kinder Surprise.[44][45]

Belgium

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In 2022, the Belgian food agency reported about 20 cases of salmonella in Belgium due to contaminated Kinder Surprise eggs.[46]

Canada

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In 2022, Ferrero Canada Ltd. recalled 23 Kinder brand chocolate products in Canada. The recall included Kinder Surprise 100g, and other products containing them.[47][48] According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the recall was voluntary. No illnesses were associated due to the consumption of the product.[49]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Kinder means children in German and ovetto means small egg in Italian.

References

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  1. ^ Harriet Pavey (15 Nov 2017). "Kinder eggs go back on sale in the US - almost 50 years after they are banned". Evening Standard. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b Madej, Patricia (29 May 2017). "Kinder Eggs will soon hit store shelves in the U.S." PhillyVoice. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Avella, Joe (18 December 2016). "We got our hands on 'Kinder Surprise Eggs' -- the global candy favourite that's still illegal in the US". Business Insider. Axel Springer SE. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  4. ^ Shockey, Lauren (19 April 2011). "Surprise! You Can Still Find Kinder Surprise Eggs!". The Village Voice. ISSN 0042-6180. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Kinder Surprise". The Boston Globe. 11 January 1996. ISSN 0743-1791. OCLC 66652431. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  6. ^ Spyrou, Constantine (25 May 2017). "Kinder Eggs are coming to America and everyone is rejoicing". Business Insider. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  7. ^ Walansky, Aly (24 November 2017). "After being banned, Kinder eggs are finally coming to the US". Today. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  8. ^ a b c Khoo, Isabelle (26 January 2016). "Kinder Surprise USA: Why These Eggs Are Banned South of the Border". HuffPost. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  9. ^ a b Horowitz, Julia (22 May 2017). "Kinder eggs are coming to U.S. stores next year". CNN. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  10. ^ Yellow shell: * Oakley, Nicola; Rodger, James (28 February 2017). "This is why Kinder Surprise toy cases are yellow". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 6 December 2017. * Driscoll, Brogan (28 February 2017). "This Is Why the Kinder Surprise Toy Case Is Yellow". HuffPost. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  11. ^ Yellow shell: * Jones, Becky (4 March 2017). "Do you know why Kinder Surprise toy cases are yellow? Lots of chocolate lovers don't!". Leicester Mercury. Archived from the original on 4 March 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017. * Gross, Samantha J. (28 February 2017). "The reason why Kinder Surprise toy cases are yellow is blowing the minds of chocolate lovers". Evening Standard. Retrieved 6 December 2017. * Shaw, Neil (28 February 2017). "This is why Kinder Surprise capsules are yellow". Tiverton Gazette. Retrieved 6 December 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ My, Sergio (21 February 2015). "Why Are Kinder Surprise Eggs Illegal in the US?". The Independent. London. ISSN 0951-9467. OCLC 185201487. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  13. ^ "Ferrero launches white chocolate Kinder Bueno bar aimed at women". Marketing Week. 13 March 2008. ISSN 0141-9285. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  14. ^ a b Kell, John (22 May 2017). "Kinder Egg Is Coming to America". Fortune. New York City. ISSN 0015-8259. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  15. ^ a b c Silver, Erin (8 November 2015). "Kinder Surprise 'unwrap videos' on YouTube mesmerize children". Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. OCLC 137342540. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  16. ^ Mosendz, Polly (16 February 2015). "Ukrainian Patriots Create a Kinder Egg Surprise". Newsweek. ISSN 0028-9604. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  17. ^ a b c d Sanna, Cristiano (30 December 2016). "Addio al papà dell'Ovetto Kinder, in tutto il mondo ne sono stati venduti 30 miliardi" (in Italian). Tiscali. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  18. ^ a b "William Salice, creator of Kinder Surprise, dies at 83". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 30 December 2016. OCLC 8572659. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  19. ^ a b c Offord, Jen (31 December 2016). "Kinder Egg creator William Salice dies, aged 83". International Business Times. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  20. ^ a b Calabresi, Mario (15 February 2015). "Michele Ferrero: "Il segreto del successo? Pensare diverso dagli altri e non tradire il cliente"". La Stampa (in Italian). GEDI Gruppo Editoriale. ISSN 1122-1763. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  21. ^ Mitchell, Simone (25 May 2017). "Americans have been denied the joy of a Kinder Surprise ... until now". news.com.au. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  22. ^ "Wal-Mart to sell Australian rival to Kinder Surprise chocolates in U.S." Reuters. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  23. ^ Abel, Allen (29 January 2011). "America's choke hold on Kinder Surprise". Winnipeg Free Press. FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership. ISSN 0828-1785. OCLC 1607085. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  24. ^ "Kinder Surprise Maxi eggs created just in time for Easter". The New Zealand Herald. 14 March 2017. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  25. ^ Gwynn, Simon (7 July 2015). "Kinder Surprise is latest brand to get Minions tie-up". The Grocer. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  26. ^ Hof, Robert D. (6 December 2015). "'Unboxing' Videos a Gift to Marketers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  27. ^ Gwynn, Simon (29 March 2016). "Minions, Frozen and Star Wars licensed to sell too much junk food, say health campaigners". PRWeek. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  28. ^ "Smart Cars - Kinder Surprises Get Smart". Super Street. Source Interlink. 1 December 2004. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  29. ^ Brady, Emma (12 September 2000). "Parents hit out at EU over tiny deadly toys". The Birmingham Post.
  30. ^ "Confectionery (Plastic Toys)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 16 July 1985. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  31. ^ "Oral Answers to Questions - Trade and Industry". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 6 December 1989. Archived from the original on 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  32. ^ "Written Answers to Questions". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 9 November 1989. Archived from the original on 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  33. ^ "Department of Trade and Industry Press Notice". 14 August 1985. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014.
  34. ^ 21 U.S.C. § 342 in combination with 21 U.S.C. § 331
  35. ^ Lewis, Neil A. (28 September 1997). "Giants in Candy Waging Battle Over a Tiny Toy". The New York Times.
  36. ^ a b "CPSC and Kreiner Imports Announce the Recall of Kinder Chocolate Eggs Containing Toys". U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. 18 August 1997. Archived from the original on 11 December 1997.
  37. ^ Black, Debra (12 January 2011). "Surprise! Border officials seize Canadian woman's Kinder egg". Toronto Star.
  38. ^ Lynn, Jamie. "Seattle men busted at the border with illegal candy". KOMO News. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  39. ^ "FDA Import Alert 34-02". fda.gov
  40. ^ "Kinder Surprise Packaging Warning labels".
  41. ^ "Why These Popular Chocolate Easter Eggs Are Banned in the US, despite Being Legal Almost Everywhere Else". Foundation for Economic Education. 2024-04-05. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  42. ^ Wilson, Matthew (2024-01-14). "Why Kinder Surprise Eggs Are Illegal In The US". Yahoo Finance. Archived from the original on 2024-06-25. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  43. ^ Atkin, Elizabeth (2022-04-07). "Why are Kinder eggs banned in the US?". Metro. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  44. ^ Bleiker, Carla (28 June 2016). "The evil egg: Chile bans Kinder Surprise". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  45. ^ Jacobs, Andrew (8 February 2018). "The country that killed Tony the Tiger and Kinder Eggs in obesity war". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  46. ^ "20 salmonella cases linked to Kinder Surprise eggs in Belgium". www.brusselstimes.com. April 5, 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  47. ^ "Homepage – Kinder Canada". Kinder Canada. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  48. ^ "Kinder recalls Chocolates over microbiological concerns (not a food allergy alert)". Club Flappd. 2022-04-09. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  49. ^ Government of Canada, Health Canada (2022-04-11). "Certain Kinder brand chocolate products recalled due to possible Salmonella - Recalls, advisories and safety alerts – Canada.ca". recalls-rappels.canada.ca. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
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