McDonald’s Recalls 2.5 Million Hello Kitty Happy Meal Toys

Hello Kitty® Whistles given away in McDonald’s kids meals are being recalled because they pose a choking hazard to children.

McDonald’s Corp. announced today that the company is voluntarily recalling the removable red whistle from a Hello Kitty figurine that was distributed in Happy Meals and Mighty Kids Meals at its McDonald’s restaurants nationwide and in Canada between October and November 2014. There have been two reports of children who inhaled parts of the whistle, then coughed out the pieces. One child required medical attention.

“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our customers and this includes the toys we offer them,” McDonald’s said in a release. “We are asking customers who have the toy to immediately take the whistle away from children and return it 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 yogurt tube or bag of apple slices.”

Parents and child caregivers can identify the recalled Hello Kitty whistle by its red color and molded image of Hello Kitty on both sides. The text “©1976, 2014 SANRIO CO., LTD.” appears above Hello Kitty’s face on the whistle, and “Made for McDonald’s China CCW Chine” appears below Hello Kitty’s face on the whistle.

The whistle was included as part of a plastic Hello Kitty figurine holding a pink heart-shaped lollipop and packaged in a plastic bag with the text “Hello Kitty® Birthday Lollipop” and the number “6” in the upper right corner.

According to McDonald’s, 2.5 million of these Hello Kitty toys were produced. It has already recovered about 70% of the toys because the promotion was in its early stages and the vast majority of inventory had not yet been shipped to its restaurants.

The recall does not affect any other toys in the current Hello Kitty and Max Steel promotion, or any previously distributed whistles.

Consumers with questions about the McDonald’s Hello Kitty recall should contact the company (800) 244-6227.