The toy in the McDonald’s Happy Meal is one of the appeals of the kids meal. Kids in Orleans Parish look forward to the surprise at the bottom of box, and parents trust that the toy will be safe. One recent McDonald’s toy does not meet the safety test. A product recall has been issued for a popular Happy Meal toy.
The Hello Kitty Birthday Lollipop whistle reportedly comes apart too easily. The internal components of the whistle can detach and become a choking hazard to young children. As a result, the product is being recalled. Over 2 million of these toys were distributed in the United States for use with McDonald’s Happy Meals. McDonald’s issued the recall after a few children coughed out pieces of the whistle that had been sucked into their mouths during use of the toy. One child required medical attention after playing with the defective toy.
Parents are instructed to take the toy away from their children. Anyone who desires a replacement toy may receive one from McDonald’s or receive a yogurt tube or bag of apple slices from the fast food giant. This toy was distributed by McDonald’s during October and the first week of November 2014 when consumers purchased a Happy Meal or Mighty Kids Meal.
Manufacturers and distributors of products are responsible for making safe items for consumers. Here the defect was discovered before a large number of children were injured by the toy. However, this is not always the case. Regardless of whether the consumer purchased the item, if he or she is injured they may be entitled to compensation. A product liability attorney can help injured victims pursue financial relief.
Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission, “McDonald’s Recalls Hello Kitty Themed Whistles Due to Choking and Aspiration Hazards,” Nov. 10, 2014
