McDonald's happy meal recall - McDonald's has issued a mass recall of about 2.5 million Hello Kitty toys, which were doled out to children as part of Happy Meals and Mighty Kids Meals giveaway.
The McDonald Happy Meal recall was issued on Monday in light of the potential health risks the toy could pose to children. The recalled toy is a Chinese manufactured red whistle. It was given to customers as part of the Happy Meal Hello Kitty Birthday Lollipop giveaway between October and November.
The toy can be dismantled and used to make different sounds by exhaling or inhaling through the mouth piece.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, McDonald's has received at least two reports of small children who have had to cough out pieces of the whistle they had suck in their mouths while playing. One of the children is reported to have received medical attention.
About 2.3 million pieces of the Hello Kitty Birthday Lollipop toy at the center of this McDonald Happy Meal recall has been distributed in the U.S. Reports indicate that about 200,000 units of the whistle have also been distributed in the company's restaurants in Canada.
McDonald's Happy Meal recall kitty toys should be returned to any of the company's outlets for a replacement. McDonald's is urging parents to take the toy from their children, and return it for a yogurt tube or a bag of apple slices.
"Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our customers and this includes the toys we offer them," a McDonald's statement reads. Reports indicate that as of Monday, McDonald's have retrieved 1.6 million - about 70 percent - of the toy from customers.
"By reporting as fast as they did, CPSC and McDonald's were able to work together to get the word out to parents, grandparents and other caregivers to help prevent any other incidents or serious injuries," CPSC Chairman Elliot Kaye said.
Elliot stressed that people should spread the word about the McDonald's Happy Meal recall to family and friends who may have bought it. He said "We urge all parents and other caregivers who believe they might have received one of these Hello Kitty Whistles from McDonald's to act on this recall immediately."
