Hello Kitty Birthday Lollipop Happy Meal Toy (#6) – Whistle Recall
11-10-2014
TORONTO, ON (November 10, 2014) - Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our guests and this includes the toys we offer them. McDonald’s has decided to voluntarily recall the red whistle included with the Happy Meal Hello Kitty Birthday Lollipop Toy (#6) in the U.S. and Canada after recently discovering that components of the whistle can detach, posing a choking and aspiration hazard to young children.
McDonald’s received two reports that two children in the United States were affected by this issue and we expressed our sincere apologies to the children and their families. There have been no reported incidents in Canada.
We are asking guests who have the toy to immediately return the red whistle to their local McDonald’s restaurant. The whistle can be removed from the figurine. We’re happy to substitute this toy for another, and, in addition, we are offering the choice of either a free strawberry yogurt tube or a bag of apple slices.
No other designs in the current Hello Kitty and Max Steel promotions are involved in this voluntary recall, nor are toys from previous Hello Kitty promotions. Additionally, this recall has no impact on other Happy Meal products and programs distributed in other markets outside the U.S. and Canada.
Approximately 200,000 whistles were manufactured for Canada. Because of the duration of the promotion, the vast majority were not sent to restaurants. Of the amount produced, to date we have recovered more than 90% or approximately 181,500 of the whistles. We are committed to recovering the red whistles that were distributed to our restaurants and our guests.
McDonald’s is working cooperatively with the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada on this voluntary recall.
| Q1 | What product is being recalled? |
| A1 | The recalled product is the red whistle that was included in a plastic Hello Kitty figurine holding a pink heart-shaped lollipop. The whistle can be removed from the figurine. A picture can be found above. |
| Q2 | Why is McDonald’s doing this voluntary recall? |
| A2 | McDonald’s is committed to helping ensure the safety and well-being of our guests and this includes the safety of the toys we offer them. We have initiated a voluntary recall because components of the red whistle can detach, posing a choking and aspiration hazard to young children. |
| Q3 | Do guests need to return both the Hello Kitty Birthday Lollipop figurine and whistle? |
| A3 | No, guests should only return the red whistle included in the Hello Kitty figurine. The whistle can be removed from the figurine. |
| Q4 | Is the Hello Kitty figurine Birthday Lollipop safe for guests to keep? |
| A4 | Please know that the Hello Kitty Birthday Lollipop figurine is safe for guests to keep. However, consumers should immediately take the red whistle away from children and return the whistle to a McDonald’s restaurant. |
| Q5 | Does this recall affect the other toy designs in the current Happy Meal promotion or previous Hello Kitty promotions? |
| A5 | We’d like to reassure you that the recall only involves the red whistle contained within the Hello Kitty Birthday Lollipop toy. No other toy designs in the current Hello Kitty and Max Steel promotions are involved in this recall, nor are toys affected from previous Hello Kitty promotions. |
| Q6 | Are the other toy designs in the current Happy Meal promotion safe? |
| A6 | Yes, they are safe. We would like you to know that nothing is more important to us than the safety of our guests and this includes the toys we offer them. |
| Q7 | Didn’t McDonald’s test the toy? |
| A7 | Yes, we certainly did. McDonald’s safety standards are among the highest in the industry, and we have a strong track record of toy safety. The toy was evaluated by an independent third-party laboratory, and determined to be in compliance with all applicable federal requirements. |
| Q8 | Does this recall affect other whistles distributed by McDonald’s? |
| A8 | No, we’d like you to know that previously distributed McDonald’s whistles are not involved in this recall and are safe. |
| Q9 | Why are your past whistles not included in this recall? |
| A9 | We recognize that you have may have a concern over whistles that McDonald’s has distributed in the past. Those whistles were designed differently and please be assured that they are safe. They are not part of this recall. |
| Q10 | Have there been any reports of incidents or injury? |
| A10 | McDonald’s received two reports in the United States that children coughed out pieces of the whistle that had released into their mouths. We expressed our sincere apologies to the children and families that were affected. There have been no reported incidents in Canada. |
| Q11 | How many toys are involved in the recall? |
| A11 | Approximately 200,000 whistles were manufactured for Canada. Because of the duration of the promotion, the vast majority were not sent to restaurants. Of the amount produced for Canada, to-date we have recovered more than 90% or approximately 181,500 of the whistles. We are notifying consumers to recover the red whistles that were distributed to our guests. |
| Q12 | When was the toy offered in your restaurants? |
| A12 | The Hello Kitty promotion was offered at McDonald’s U.S. and Canada restaurants beginning October 31, 2014. |
| Q13 | Was the toy produced in China and by whom? |
| A13 | Yes, the toy was produced in China by a long-standing supplier who has consistently met our high safety standards. |
| Q14 | How many other recalls has McDonald’s had and what were they for? |
| A14 | We strive to always produce safe and high quality products. McDonald’s safety standards are among the highest in the industry and we have a strong track record of toy safety. Given the billions of promotional items we’ve sold and distributed over the years, recalls represent a very small percentage. Further information is available on Health Canada’s Web site at www.hc-sc.gc.ca. |
| Q15 | What should guests do with the toy? |
| A15 | Customers should immediately take the whistle away from children and return it to any McDonald’s restaurant to receive a replacement Happy Meal toy and the choice of either a free strawberry yogurt tube or a free bag of apple slices. |
| Q16 | How can guests return their toy? |
| A16 | We recognize the inconvenience of returning a toy. To ease the return process, any McDonald’s restaurant will accept the toy. We encourage our guests to review the full set of instructions related to returning the toy by visiting www.mcdonalds.ca beginning Monday, November 10. Guests can also call McDonald’s toll-free number at 1-888-424-4622. |
| Q17 | What will guests receive if they participate in the voluntary recall? |
| A17 | We would like all of our guests who received the red whistle to know that we apologize for any inconvenience that this issue may have caused, and we would like to make their experience a happy one. To that end, guests can return the toy at any McDonald’s restaurant and receive a replacement Happy Meal toy and the choice of either a free strawberry yogurt tube or a free bag of apple slices. |
| Q18 | Was the toy distributed anywhere besides Canada? |
| A18 | Yes, McDonald’s U.S. also distributed the toy in their restaurants. Identical, immediate and swift action was taken both in Canada and the U.S. as part of this voluntary recall. No other countries received this whistle. |
| Q19 | Is McDonald’s U.S. recalling the toy? |
| A19 | Yes, this promotion includes the U.S. and the recall is underway there as well. |
| Q20 | How does this recall impact Happy Meal products and programs distributed in other markets outside the U.S. and Canada? |
| A20 | We would like you to know that this recall has no impact on past or present Happy Meal products and programs distributed in other markets outside the U.S. and Canada. |
| Q21 | Why can’t I get the Hello Kitty Birthday Balloon toy (Toy #5)? |
| A21 | Unfortunately, the Hello Kitty Birthday Balloon toy (Toy #5) is not available. |
CPSC advisory: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2015/McDonalds-Recalls-Hello-Kitty-Themed-Whistles/
Health Canada advisory: http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2014/42159r-eng.php