Millions of McDonald’s Happy Meal Fitness Trackers Recalled after Injury Reports

McDonald’s is recalling more than 30 million Step-It activity wristbands that were given out for free with the restaurant’s kids’ Happy Meals. According to KTLA, the company got more than 70 reports of skin irritation including seven reports of blisters in children who wore the wristbands. About 29 million units in the U.S. and 3.6 million in Canada are being recalled.

Burn Injuries and Blisters

Parents of children have apparently been posting photos and accounts of their children suffering blisters and skin burn injuries as a result of wearing these fitness trackers that came with McDonald’s Happy Meals. One mom reported that her child was burned by the toy after playing with it for just eight minutes. Her Facebook post was shared more than 130,000 times.

The recalled Step-It activity wrist bands come in two styles: “Activity Counter” and the “Light-up Band” in six bright colors. The bands, made in China, measure steps and blink quickly or slowly depending on the pace of the person wearing them. The company has voluntarily removed the product citing injury concerns. Consumers are advised to immediately return the fitness trackers to any McDonald’s for a free replacement toy and either a yogurt tube or bag of apple slices.

Toy Safety Standards

All products manufactured or sold in the United States have to pass certain safety standards. This is also true, and especially true, for kids’ toys. There are millions of toys still out in the market that have the potential to cause serious injuries to our children. However, federal standards require that all toys, even if they handed out free, must adhere to safety standards.

It is important to determine what caused these fitness tracking bands to injure so many children. What chemicals were used in manufacturing these toys? What is the lead and/or phthalate content in these toys? Were they tested for safety? These are just a few questions that must be asked in order to determine precisely what caused more than 70 children to suffer burn injuries, skin irritation and blisters, apparently after wearing the bands for minutes, in some cases.

Be Cautious

It’s not always possible to avoid toy-related injuries. However, there are steps parents can take to prevent some of these injuries. Even if you do get a free toy, make sure it is age-appropriate for your child. If you child is young, make sure it doesn’t have any small parts that could pose a choking hazard. If your child has suffered serious injuries contact an experienced product defect attorney who can offer you more information about pursuing your legal rights.