Germans plan Kinder egg ban

German politicians plan to ban the Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs, on the grounds that they are a safety hazard.

 The children's committee of the German
parliament, which is responsible for introducing legislation, fears
children might mistake the toys contained in the eggs for food and
swallow them. Critics have also said that mixing toys and food is not
helpful when trying to teach children the value of good nutrition.
Cornflakes and other products that contain toys are also on the
blacklist.

The company Ferrero, which produces
Kinder Surprise eggs for Germany, responded angrily to the
announcement, saying its product had undergone many safety tests
since first coming on to the German market in 1974. "There is
absolutely no evidence that the Kinder Surprise eggs as a combination
of toy and foodstuff are dangerous," said Elise Glaab, the
company's spokeswoman. "The Kinder Surprise toy is separated
from the chocolate by a plastic capsule."