McDonald’s is recalling 33 million children’s fitness trackers after reports they caused skin irritations and burns.
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According to the CPSC, McDonald’s had roughly 29 million Step-It devices in the US and 3.6 million units in Canada.
McDonald’s received mixed responses earlier this month after it started giving away the FitBit-like “Step It” activity tracker with kids’ Happy Meals in the USA and Canada. The reports included seven cases where children got blisters from wearing the toys.
Last week’s McDonald’s debacle, which saw the fast food giant forced to recall its first wearable tracker, has taken yet another turn, this time involving the US government.
Indeed, doesn’t it seem odd for a child to open a Happy Meal box with chicken nuggets and French fries and see a pedometer next to the fattening food? In the meanwhile, an alternative Happy Meal toy is being distributed to children. The chain chose to remove the trackers from the menu after reports of several children getting rashes and skin irritation because of the devices.
The government agency advises customers to remove the recalled wristbands and return them to a local McDonald’s for a replacement toy or snack. “We very much support children’s well-being”, Michelle McIlmoyle, senior marketing manager for McDonald’s Canada, said in an earlier press release according to Digital Trends.
In the meantime, we fully expect the Step-It fitness tracker to become a cult classic on eBay in about five to ten years.
According to CNN, the fitness trackers came in six bright colors.
The report says that it was a pedometer-style gadget that “measures steps and blinks quickly or slowly depending on the pace of the person wearing it”.
Aside from the obvious contradiction of luring kids to fast food with toys, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) called out McDonald’s on Twitter for making fast food a reward for young children and associating that behavior with exercise.
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McDonald’s and other fast food chains have recently been trying to make their menu healthier by introducing various healthier eating options such as yoghurt, grilled chicken and salads. Or, go to www.mcdonalds.com and click on “Safety Recall”.
