>>>Litigation kills a lot of the american way of life. Small parts in something that's intended for children to use is a serious no-no. I remember seeing Kinder eggs in some stores (probably Big Lots, they often have european stuff that the natives don't appreciate), though not sure how long ago, nor whether I mixed up the continents :). Did I see it or not? If I was there again, would I see it anywhere?
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>>Kinder eggs never seem to contain anything that needs assembly now.
>
>Not here. Just got one the other day (which is a euphemism for prekjuče, aka "the day before yesterday"), and it had three or four parts.
>
>Shall we assume the UK consumers are deemed just as lawyer-trigger-happy as those in the US?

Quite possible.

We used to buy a toy for my daughter (when she was little) called polly pocket. Usually some sort of case that opened to reveal a little house with a couple of very small figures. Now polly pockets figures are enormous. Too big to be swallowed and nowhere nears as nice.