Watch CBS News

McDonald's Recalls Millions Of Happy Meals Fitness Bands

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

NEW YORK (CBSMiami/AP) — McDonald's has issued a recall of millions of fitness bands given away in Happy Meals due to concerns they might cause skin irritations or burns to children.

The fast-food chain said last week that it would stop distributing the bands in Happy Meals. Now it's recalling 29 million of them in the U.S., and 3.6 million in Canada.

The company received more than 70 reports of incidents after children wore the bands, including seven reports of blisters, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The Step-It Fitness plastic wristbands, in blue, green, purple, orange and red, look like watches and are supposed to track physical activity.

Customers should return the wristbands to McDonald's for a free replacement toy, and either a yogurt tube or bag of apple slices, the CPSC said. The wristbands, which were made in China and distributed exclusively by McDonald's, were sold between Aug. 9th and Aug. 17th.

The promotion had turned heads even before the recall, given the reputation of McDonald's Corp. as a seller of junk food. The company has been trying to change that reputation over the years, in part by including fruit in its Happy Meals.

The company has also been running TV ads saying its Chicken McNuggets are now made without artificial preservatives.

Click here for more information on the recall. 

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.