Kinder Egg toys pose choking hazard to kids, U.S. Customs officials say

Kinder Eggs are banned from the United States.

With Easter just days away, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is reminding international travelers not to bring any Kinder Surprise eggs into the U.S.

The chocolate treats, also known as Kinder Eggs, are not safe to import legally into the U.S. The problem is the small plastic toy inside the hollow chocolate egg, which is a choking hazard to young children.

Customs officials say many countries sell Kinder Eggs, but they are banned from the U.S.

Last fiscal year 2011, Customs and Border Protection seized more than 60,000 Kinder Eggs from travelers’ baggage and from international mail shipments -- more than twice the number seized in fiscal year 2010. The product violates both Consumer Product Safety Commission and Food and Drug Administration regulations.