McDonald’s Latest Recall On Fitness Tracker Sets A Company Record

We recently reported that McDonald’s was giving away a very basic fitness tracker inside Happy Meals. Less than a day after our initial report, McDonald’s pulled the plug on its STEP-iT Activity Bands, due to parents claiming the fitness tracker was causing skin irritation, “and burns from wearing the band.”

McDonald’s recalled 29 million fitness trackers in the United States and more than 3 million in Canada, according to its website. Considering the numbers and the circumstances on which McDonald’s most recent recall were issued — 32 million total units between the U.S. and Canada —  make this McDonald’s largest recall EVER.

In 2010, McDonald’s recalled a Shrek-themed drinking cup, due to exposure to paint that contained cadmium. Approximately 7.5 million units of the cups were sold to customers, which McDonald’s offered to pay $3.00 for each cup returned. In 2015, McDonald’s released Minions-themed toys, which were quickly recalled due to claims that the toy said, “What the F*ck.”

In an August 23 statement, released via McDonald’s Facebook page and website, the company announced a voluntary recall on the newly released fitness tracker.

“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our customers, including the toys and children’s products we offer them. McDonald’s has decided to voluntarily recall the Step-iT Activity Wristbands in the U.S. and Canada after recently receiving reports of skin irritation and burns upon wearing the wristband,” McDonald’s Facebook page read.

Now, McDonald’s is encouraging customers that are still using the activity tracker to, “stop wearing them and return them to any McDonald’s for a free replacement toy and a choice of a yogurt or apple slices.”

McDonald’s is now working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission after more than 70 different cases of skin irritation promoted company officials to take action.