Casey Collyar was one of the many McDonald’s customers who complained about its latest Happy Meal toy.
The company’s latest kid-friendly fitness tracker ‘Step-It’, is a simple colourful wristband that not only tracks the number of steps by the user but also indicates through a blinking light when the wearer walks, jogs and runs. The toy was an initiative by the company to encourage kids to get more active.
While typically tying up with the latest blockbuster movie or Disney cartoons, this is the fast food chain’s first initiative to create its own fitness based Happy Meal toy for children.
However, this was short-lived when several consumers complained that the product caused skin irritation and burns on their children’s skin. In reaction to this McDonald’s recalled the newly launched activity trackers, which were available in all its U.S. and Canadian stores.
Terri Hickey, a spokeswoman for McDonald’s, told USA Today, “We have taken this swift and voluntary step after receiving limited reports of potential skin irritations that may be associated with wearing the band.”
Terri shared that the company is in the process of investigating the issue, and will be offering alternative Happy Meal toys.
While the fitness tracker giveaway was part of McDonald’s Olympics-related marketing push, the company has been kicking off several new initiatives to target their increasingly health-conscious consumers.
Earlier this month McDonald’s USA announced it had made several key changes to its ingredients which included replacing corn syrup with sugar in its hamburger buns and eliminating artificial preservatives from its Chicken McNuggets. The company had also recently included healthier options such as fruits and yogurt in their Happy Meal menus.
These changes according to the company were in reaction to the shift in consumers tastes toward, healthier and more natural foods.
The 5th Malaysian Chief Marketing Officers (CMO) Conference is a full day journey into the minds of some of the sharpest and most inspiring minds in the business.
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Date: September 6th, 2016 (Tuesday)
Venue: Sime Darby Convention Centre, Jalan Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.
