10 Fast Food Toys That Became Dangerous and Got Pulled
Fast food toys have always been exciting for kids, but sometimes, they have caused more trouble than joy. Some were made too quickly, with sharp parts or choking hazards that led to real injuries. These toys were fun at first — until they were suddenly pulled from restaurants for safety reasons.
- Tricia Quitales
- 3 min read
Fast food chains have handed out toys with kids’ meals for decades, often tied to popular shows or movies. However, not all of them were safe, some turned out to be dangerous and had to be recalled. From choking risks to sharp edges and toxic materials, these toys caused enough concern to disappear quickly. Here are 10 fast food toys that were pulled after becoming too risky for kids.
1. Burger King’s Pokémon Balls
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These plastic Poké Balls were meant to hold small toys inside, but they became a suffocation hazard. A child tragically died after half of the ball covered her nose and mouth. Burger King issued a massive recall and even ran commercials asking parents to return them.
2. McDonald’s Mini Furbies
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Mini Furbies were popular and looked just like the full-size version, but small parts fell off easily. Children could swallow the eyes or internal pieces. McDonald’s removed them quickly after several reports of choking risks.
3. Taco Bell’s Star Wars Toys
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Taco Bell released a set of toys for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, including launchers and small ships. One toy had a spring-loaded piece that shot off unexpectedly and hit kids in the face. Complaints led to a quiet pull of that specific toy from the set.
4. McDonald’s Step-It Activity Bands
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These wearable toys were meant to promote fitness, but kids quickly complained of rashes and burns. The bands had plastic that irritated skin and electronics that overheated. McDonald’s removed them after just a few weeks.
5. Burger King’s Big Kids Meal Laser Tops
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These spinning tops lit up with lasers and were flashy but unsafe. The laser light could damage eyes if stared into directly, and some had faulty batteries that sparked. They were pulled from stores and never returned.
6. KFC’s Looney Tunes Choking Hazard Toys (2001)
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KFC offered Looney Tunes toys that had small parts which broke off too easily. Several kids put the parts in their mouths, leading to choking scares. The toys were discontinued mid-promotion.
7. McDonald’s Inspector Gadget Toys
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These toys were designed to be collected and combined into one big Inspector Gadget figure. Some connector pieces were sharp or didn’t fit right, causing cuts and jabs. After the parents had complained, they quietly stopped handing them out.
8. Jack in the Box’s Magic Ball
Jack in the Box on Wikimedia
The Magic Ball was a clear, glitter-filled ball that could crack open under pressure. Kids found it fun to throw, but when it broke, the liquid inside irritated their skin and eyes. The toy was quickly recalled for being both messy and hazardous.
9. Wendy’s Chicken Run Toys
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Based on the claymation movie Chicken Run, these toys had movable parts and snap-on accessories. Some parts were sharp or broke off too easily, especially the tiny hats and tools. After a few incidents, the toys were taken out of stores.
10. McDonald’s Scooby-Doo Haunted Mansion Set
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The plastic pieces in this set were shaped like traps and spooky doors, but some had hidden springs. One door trap snapped back too hard and pinched kids’ fingers. McDonald’s pulled the item from the full set for safety reasons.