Kinder Surprise Eggs: No Joy in a Kinder Joy
Decades ago one of my dearest friend’s mother worked at a company that imported foods, mostly candies and snacks, from other countries to be sold in the States. This led to some very interesting snacking when I would visit, which was often, and you never knew if a snack cake from the UK or chocolate from Luxembourg would be on hand! One particular instance I recall was getting something called a “Kinder Egg” and unless your family traveled out of the country often or you had family living abroad these chocolate wonders were completely foreign!
I remember that first imported chocolate Kinder Egg that I ate, and more importantly the super cool toy inside – because I still have it! As the guy that never throws anything away, I have kept this little copper 8th Century Warrior figuring in my possession and he now lives amongst other small knick knacks displayed in my office. How cool was it to get chocolate AND a toy? How was this not a thing in America? How is this STILL not a thing in America? Thank the government.
Kinder Surprise/Sorpresa Eggs break the U.S. 1938 Food, Drug, and Cosmetics act that cites non-nutritive objects cannot be in food – thus the tiny capsule with a toy inside a Kinder Surprise Egg cannot be surrounded by chocolate and legally sold here. Apparently, the big (usually tan) capsule with the toy is a choking hazard according the FDA. I guess American kids are too stupid and might eat a big yellow plastic capsule. The rest of the world seems to be able to handle it.
But, in 2001 to combat the United States lack of toy bearing egg shaped treats Kinder’s parent company Ferrero brought the market a new type of egg called 'Kinder Joy'. These eggs essentially are two plastic half shells that peel in two, with one side containing a toy or charm (sealed) and the other side with two wafer-like chocolate
balls surrounded by a cocoa and milk concoction. Are they good? Yes. But they are not anywhere in the same league as the fragile molded chocolate eggs, and simply not nearly as fun! To me these are simply a crappy replacement for the real deal!
I’ve been fortunate to often travel abroad in my life and been able to eat a lot of Kinder Surprise eggs. A few of the toys I’ve kept around as well! When I visit another country one of my top priorities is finding a shop with some eggs! (Ok, I might have a sugar and chocolate addiction!) But it is always fun for me to see what Kinder has come up with next to cram inside of that little capsule while enjoying that satisfying milk chocolate and sweet creamy milk flavored shell.
If there is ever a petition to bring the normal Kinder Surprise Eggs to the US market, I'd be the first to sign it!
Christmastime is a great time for Kinder Eggs!
Some vintage Kinder toys from Italy.
A more recent Kinder toy from Australia.
