Don't put all your eggs in one basket

Today is my Birthday. Old enough to drag out a story that could be said in 2 sentences, but I won’t let you off the hook that easily.

David took me out to the best breakfast I’ve had in the UK!!  Delicious!!  shout out to “Beam” and to David!  Our waiter was cute, when he realized it was my birthday he brought over two kinder eggs.  I had never seen one before.  Why?  Because, evidently, US parents can’t be expected to watch their children and consequently, they are illegal in the United States of America.
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Yes, you read that right.  We are a country that protects our citizens from doing unintentional harm to one another, and so justifiably made opening a chocolate egg with a rather large plastic “yolk” encompassing a small toy, illegal.  

But it is all about me today… My fun egg was a sign, it must be!!  My toy had a baby.  A shout out to Katherine and Josh and hopes that their beautiful baby girl shares my birthday.

For those of you, like me, who did not know anything about the illegal Kinder egg, here are some fun facts.

“It all goes back to the 1938 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. According to the law, food cannot be sold if it contains a "non-nutritive object." In the case of Kinder eggs - - the plastic toy at the treat's center is pretty obviously not nutritious. However, non-edible items can be sold with food if they have a purpose related to consuming the food, such as the stick of a lollipop.”  Oddly, we do not make lollipops illegal even though there are numerous Oro-pharyngeal injuries every year to toddlers that hurt themselves with the sticks.

You have likely heard of “those kind of undesirable people” who smuggle firearms or contraband into the United States, well look no further, an underground market has developed, with people bringing the eggs into the United States. Beware, if a person is caught by customs, they can face a hefty fine of up to $2,500 per egg. 

And for all you zealous religious folks out there, you may agree when you read about the resurrection of Jesus in the Bible, you'll find little mention of chocolate, bunnies, or eggs. Despite this, a large bunny that hides eggs (which are often made of chocolate, or worse yet = plastic eggs with hidden money, small toys or tiny chocolates) is a central figure during the American Easter celebration.

In Italy, there seems to be a tradition associated with the Christian holiday as well. Italian children receive large chocolate eggs that contain toys.  Now you see why the tradition of the Kinder Egg came about creating the kinder surprise.

Side note. 10 children worldwide have died from choking on parts of the kinder toy surprises over a 47 year period.  And yet, 300 children in the United States were shot with a firearm and killed in 1 year and yet, we make no headway regarding gun control.  I realize the USA has not done a very good job of educating our population in math or statistics, but maybe that is where we should start? Unfortunately, the very people supporting the gun laws will soon be in control of our education system.  Think about that.  Frightening. If, we the people, cannot see what is going on, then we deserve what is coming… it’s not pretty. 

After so many years of being denied a Kinder Egg, I am delighted I was able to experience one.  I plan to give them to my grandchildren, under adult supervision – of course!!  I might even have to smuggle a few in.  I can see the headlines now, Grandmother arrested over egg controversy.  Sentenced to maximum years in prison because she refused to pay the fine.