McDonald’s Changes Plans to Give Away Fitness Trackers Instead of Toys

By THC Staff | August 19, 2016

 

McDonald’s has really gotten into the Olympic spirit judging by their sponsorship and subsequent social media posts. One Instagram post even featured a photo of a chicken nugget torch pass. Unfortunately, when McDonald decided to give their Happy Meal toys an Olympic theme by offering a fitness tracker in each packaged meal, things didn’t go as planned.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIv6Jr5D7LQ/?taken-by=mcdonalds

The fitness trackers came in six neon colors. Three of them acted like pedometers by counting steps, while the other three lit up and blinked when the wearer was active. They were meant to be available for four weeks in the U.S. and Canada.

The problems arose after children wore the wristband trackers. Parents reported that they developed rashes on their wrists.

CNN quotes McDonald’s spokesperson Terri Hickey as saying, “We have taken this swift and voluntary step after receiving limited reports of potential skin irritations that may be associated from wearing the band. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our customers and we are fully investigating this issue.”

Since McDonald’s was once under fire for claims saying they encourage an unhealthy lifestyle by appealing to children with toys, the company has tried to change the perception of their Happy Meals. But this time, it appears their efforts were a miss.