You Are Now Crossing The Border Into The Nanny State
American border officials confiscated a Canadian woman's chocolate Kinder Surprise egg (with the surprise little toy inside) on the grounds that a child could choke on it. The CBC quotes the woman, Lind BIrd:
"It's just a chocolate egg," Bird said. "And they were making a big deal. They said 'if you were caught with this across the border you would get charged a $300 fine,'" she said."It's ridiculous. It's so ridiculous," she added.
In Canada, however, officials said the eggs are so difficult to get into there's little chance they could harm anyone. As such, they are legal.
The U.S. takes catching illegal Kinder candy seriously, judging by the number of them they've confiscated in the last year. Officials said they've seized more than 25,000 of the treats in 2,000 separate seizures.
...As trivial as the border seizure may seem, Bird said the U.S. government has sent her a seven-page letter asking her to formally authorize the destruction of her seized Kinder egg.
"I thought it was a joke. I had to read it twice. But they are serious," she said.
Has a child ever choked on a toy inside a Kinder egg? Then again, has a child ever choked on one of the bazillions of tiny toy pieces that are in Lego and bazillions of other toys? Well, yes, but should we ban toys...or encourage parenting? You know, the kind done by actual parents, not the government acting in loco parentis (with emphasis on the this is fucking loco already).
Ok... that's just weird. Kinder Eggs are illegal?
You sure it's not just the border guards really like that rather yucky chocolate and are fiendish collectors of Kinder toys?
See that makes more sense to me than a government banning them, that's just craziness.
Simon Proctor at January 12, 2011 1:58 AM
What the hell is next Cracker Jacks. Prizes at the bottom of cereal boxes.
Bring on the presliced hot dogs. Next we will set scientists to genetically engineer grapes to break into small pieces. I know I know parents can not pre chew their food for their children. It is what all good parents must do. And breast feed. So breast feed till 4 then parents then can start prechewing the food for the kids till they turn 12 then if the kids test well enough we can give them a spork and lots of mushy food.
This kind of legislature really needs to end. God I remember when some border gaurds decided to ban Vegimite got the Ozzies (not the family) in a little bit of a tizzie.
http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/vegemite.asp
John Paulson at January 12, 2011 2:34 AM
This is hilarious. My husband loves Kinder chocolates, in all its forms.
NicoleK at January 12, 2011 4:21 AM
If only they were this diligent about catching people crossing illegally and those smuggling in drugs.
*sigh*
Sabrina at January 12, 2011 4:58 AM
Whoah, that's insane! I play with those things... now I know not to try to bring any back in my luggage. Jeez, what next?http://www.visibletrash.net/art-into-action/gallery.php
Little Shiva at January 12, 2011 6:53 AM
Yes, they have:
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60703736.html
The eggs have also been used to smuggle heroin and cocaine.
The eggs are somewhat charming, but I can understand the ban -- you are putting tiny bits of plastic inside a snack for children. Granted the eggs would be difficult for a child under 3 to open, but still. The chocolate is crap, anyway.
franko at January 12, 2011 7:11 AM
"Officials said they've seized more than 25,000 of the treats in 2,000 separate seizures."
Am I the only one with the image in my mind of two really fat American border guards with chocolate-stained mouths and fingers?
Old RPM Daddy at January 12, 2011 7:20 AM
Regarding those parents whose kids choked on them, they seem to be age 3 or 4. Those of you who are parents, do you allow your child of this age to have tiny toys, or is there the concern they'll put them in their mouths and choke?
There are a lot of tiny toys. Should they all be banned?
Amy Alkon at January 12, 2011 7:31 AM
I'm surrounded by dirty chocolate junkies and pushers...
I R A Darth Aggie at January 12, 2011 7:53 AM
"There are a lot of tiny toys. Should they all be banned?"
Shush! You don't want to give 'em any ideas. I've still got Legos in the storage shed. Now that my wife's easing out of the daycare business, I'm gonna take 'em out again.
Old RPM Daddy at January 12, 2011 7:58 AM
Knockoff versions of Kinder eggs, along with the similarly-banned "jelly cups," are sold openly at the big Asian market in my city.
Given the recent discussion of Chinese children's study habits, perhaps Asian kids are too smart to choke to death on them. Or their parents are too smart to let them do so. Or something.
Kevin at January 12, 2011 8:11 AM
If it is left laying around, a child will put it in her mouth. No parent can be 100% vigilant. Have you seen a Kinder Egg, Amy? The toys are frequently little puzzles to assemble that have little plastic bits, sometimes less than a quarter-inch long. If Kinder wants to sell the eggs in the US, let them conform to US regulations for child safety. Make the toys bigger, or forgo the US market.
No children have been harmed by NOT having access to Kinder Eggs.
franko at January 12, 2011 8:20 AM
"No children have been harmed by NOT having access to Kinder Eggs."
Or Legos. The difference being...
Old RPM Daddy at January 12, 2011 8:31 AM
No children have been harmed by NOT having access to Kinder Eggs.
No adults have been harmed by not having access to a beer. But, are you going to ban beer because somebody will drink it to excess and get behind the wheel and kill people?
If you have little children, you need to be vigilant and not expect the government to ban everything on the face of existence.
Amy Alkon at January 12, 2011 8:55 AM
If it is left laying around, a child will put it in her mouth. No parent can be 100% vigilant.
It would behoove him or her to aim for that when it comes to a child choking to death.
The toys are frequently little puzzles to assemble that have little plastic bits, sometimes less than a quarter-inch long.
Given the fact I've probably seen 10,000 paper clips in my life - and fewer than 10 of the stupid eggs - you might focus on banning paper clips at the border. It's probably safer.
Kevin at January 12, 2011 8:56 AM
Frank: what nonsense. Yes, a child choked to death - back in 1989. Kids also manage choke to death on rocks. And grapes. And other random objects. Life is not 100% safe - this is not news.
More: "The eggs have also been used to smuggle..." So have innumerable other containers. Again, so what?
Just a couple of days ago a girl here ran across a street without looking. She was run over by a bus. I know: let's outlaw buses!
The problem here is that the DHS (which includes CBP) is spending its effort in all the wrong places. They are confiscating chocolate eggs, harassing visiting students in New York, and making everyone's life miserable at airports. Meanwhile, they allow 20 million illegal aliens to remain in the country, and the Southern border continues to leak like a sieve.
a_random_guy at January 12, 2011 8:57 AM
I'm sure Irwin Mainway would agree with y'all:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/115713/saturday-night-live-irwin-mainway
franko at January 12, 2011 9:15 AM
Every time I go to Germany, I stock up on Kinder Eier.I bring them back as gifts (although, truth be told, I keep most myself because I love the little puzzles and spinning tops). Good to know that what I am doing is technically illegal. I had no idea.
And yeah, the ban is stupid. If you have a 3- or 4- year-old, chances are you have to actually GIVE them the chocolate (it's not like they can go to the store and buy it themselves). So how hard is it to remove the toy-holding capsule from within the chocolate and keep it out reach (kinda like you do with household chemicals, jewelry, etc)?
sofar at January 12, 2011 9:25 AM
So, we'll confiscate chocolate at the border, but the flat bed truck with 13 illegal immigrants just rolls on thru
lujlp at January 12, 2011 12:01 PM
I grew up in Canada and was rather fond of kinder eggs and very surprised when I fond out they weren't legal in the US. Might as well ban the wrapping on candies too in case a kid chokes on it...and those sticks for suckers/lollipops.
Catherine at January 12, 2011 12:01 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/01/12/welcome_to_the_16.html#comment-1820331">comment from CatherineOf course, if we ban children, no children will die from choking!
Amy Alkon
at January 12, 2011 12:19 PM
I give. You're all right, we should just let market forces determine how many infant deaths are acceptable.
It follows that we should lift bans on the import of Chinese toys painted with lead-based paints, as well. And let parents decide for themselves whether Irwin Mainway's Bag 'o Glass is appropriate for toddlers.
franko at January 12, 2011 12:35 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/01/12/welcome_to_the_16.html#comment-1820359">comment from frankoAnd let parents decide for themselves whether Irwin Mainway's Bag 'o Glass is appropriate for toddlers.
My parents controlled what we had access to -- as do my neighbors with their children. I was not allowed to watch TV, and read a laundry basket full of books every week in the time I otherwise would have been glued to the tube like other kids in my neighborhood. The government is not a big mommy, nor should it be expected to be.
Amy Alkon
at January 12, 2011 1:07 PM
So no form of industry regulation is appropriate? Sherwin Williams should be allowed to use lead in their paints? Corning can use asbestos in their insulation? Market forces should determine how many particles of rat poop are acceptable per pound of ground beef? Do you eat only at restaurants that post a 'C ' or lower health code rating to protest such government intrusion into the free market?
franko at January 12, 2011 1:33 PM
Well, franko, how many kids do you know that have their own jobs to buy stuff?
Why the hell does the public at large have to suffer because a handful of parents cant be bothered to care properly for their kids?
lujlp at January 12, 2011 4:45 PM
We lived in Germany for 3 years with 2 kids. They sure did love their Kinder eggs. They would really look forward to getting one.
Mike43 at January 12, 2011 5:08 PM
Hey, Franko? I used to have tiny toys, I'm sure, but have gotten rid of them by now. But just maybe, there is one left somewhere in my house. I invite you to come toss my house to confiscate the possible toy, so that some neighborhood kid doesn't get ahold of it and choke on it. I'll be waiting with a baseball bat.
OVER-REGULATION PISSES ME OFF!!!
mpetrie98 at January 12, 2011 7:14 PM
Oh, darn, I hope that rhetoric didn't cause anybody to go shoot a Congressperson or something.
Come and get me!
mpetrie98 at January 12, 2011 7:16 PM
> Come and get me!
No one wants you, Mr. Internet Tough Guy.
franko at January 12, 2011 10:52 PM
I think the real danger of the over-regulation in this area is the (rampant) false sense of security that comes from equating "legal" with "safe".
Though having once chipped a tooth falling into a doorframe after stepping barefoot on a piece of rogue Lego, I have to insist they ban it. Or at least make it round. Or make it out of the stuff Nerf Balls were made of.
hahahathud at January 13, 2011 3:53 PM
THIS is what's so important to spend on that the government needs to borrow money for it?
Lobster at January 18, 2011 5:13 AM
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