Wait a second while I laugh.

[cerealjoe]

I personally am not a huge fan of Kinder Eggs (or Kinder Surprise Eggs, as they're called in some places) because I find them rather too sweet but you have to admit sometimes they have some really nifty toys. I actually have some toys that were in the LOTR edition, they're all sitting on the shelf along with my Tolkien books. But you know who can't have Kinder Eggs? Americans. Legally that is. Because a "1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act prohibits embedding "non-nutritive items" in confections. Additionally, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall on the eggs in 1997 (mostly via import shops)" (thank you Wiki for that one). People have had their eggs confiscated at the border coming from Canada (and even got a 7 page letter telling them that their one egg will have to be destroyed and that they should give permission before the destruction can go ahead). So yes, in the US they're illegal because the small toys could be a chocking hazard, even though the label clearly states they're not intended for children under 3, even though it also says that parents should be present at all times because there is a chocking hazard, even though the toy is inside a freaken plastic thingy which I have often had trouble opening and I'm an adult! But nooooo... dangerous! Don't touch. Given the trouble that the US authorities go to in order to protect people (they've raided import stores around Easter because they were selling some contraband eggs, google it up there are hilarious photos included), you might ask "just how many people have died because of those chocking hazards?" and the answer is 7. In the whole world. Over the 30+ years that the Eggs have been sold everywhere. I'm not saying that the deaths of seven kids are not bad... but, yeah, actually I'll be mean and that's exactly what I'll say. Compared to the amount of kids who will die of health complications because their parents did not instill basic survival things (healthy eating habits, you're responsible for your acts so don't do stupid things, etc.), seven deaths in all those years are nothing. Even if those Eggs could be sold they'd probably have to come with a three page warning label to avert any possible liabilities because of the stupidity of people. Nah, seriously, if you're dumb enough not to know how a microwave works and expect a cat to dry in one, then you should just go feel dumb in a corner, not sue the manufacturer for millions because they did not indicate that a cooking device should not be used to dry pets. I've often complained about the fact that we are and we're grooming a generation of completely incompetent idiots but seeing laws and mindsets like that makes me really fear about the future of some countries. Do we really want kids who only know "yes, you're perfect, don't over-strain yourself, if you don't want to do it then it's ok, nothing bad will ever happen to you, you'll never be alone, if anything happens you don't like you can just sue for compensation, etc." in their lives? That's boring. Just as those new playgrounds. They're rubbish. Falling down, getting back up, scraping knees are all part of a great learning process. A lot of compensation cases should just be dismissed on the grounds of "you're an idiot, tough luck" because some common sense should just be expected from everyone... and not 7 page warning notices from manufacturers. But as always THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!!1!!!!!eleventeen!!!!!!

Comments

[episkeyed.livejournal.com]

I just die a little inside whenever stupid people sue the company/manufacturers for whatever stupid action they do that result in (obvious) consequences.

[cerealjoe.livejournal.com]

We can only hope that eventually their pathetic asses will win a Darwin Award and they will not be able to sue anyone anymore!

[ammesor0.livejournal.com]

a) I've had Kinder eggs several times while in the US, bought from European import stores

b) I've had knock off brand egg surprises while in the US, from Euro import stores as well.

c) I have several kinder toys! :) mostly animals

d) lol@america. FDA has noooo problem letting Monsanto et al run around freely, but we can't have Kindereier

[cerealjoe.livejournal.com]

I say keep on being a rebel and help the underground Kinder Egg economy! The FDA sure has a lot of problems, they allow tons of weird additives that have been numerous times been linked to cancer but heck, out of the 200+ kinds of cheese an average cheese shop in France carries only about a dozen would be allowed in the US because we all know that you will die you eat something not 100% pasteurized. But hey, that's how our world is, the EU food peeps are trying to pass overprotective laws also...

[earths-citizen.livejournal.com]

I could talk about Americas oversights on import policy until I'm blue in the face. The sheer irony is just dripping off the shelves.
This falls in line with blaming TV on children's behavior. We americans have this issue with taking responsibility for our fuck ups and just swoop up the opportunity to take advantage of someone else's minimal mistake. So economics has to suffer because someone chose to not behave like a grownup.