12 Fast Food Toys That Would Be a Safety Hazard Now
These 12 old-school fast food toys would never pass today’s safety standards, and some were borderline dangerous.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Fast food toys used to be a kid’s favorite part of grabbing a burger and fries, but some of those freebies were far from safe. From sharp edges to toxic materials, many of these playthings would get banned instantly today. Let’s take a look back at 12 fast food toys that would be major safety hazards in the modern world.
1. McDonald’s Snack Maker Kits
Mike Mozart on Flickr
These DIY dessert kits let kids make soft serve or cookies right at home, but the tiny plastic pieces were a choking nightmare. The included scoops and molds were small enough to get stuck in throats.
2. Burger King Pokémon Balls (1999)
tablexxnx on Flickr
These collectible Poké Balls were a huge hit during the Pokémon craze but ended up being recalled. The snap-tight lids could trap air and suffocate children if placed over the mouth and nose.
3. McDonald’s Mini Furbies (1998)
Vickie Intili on Pexels
These tiny electronic toys mimicked the real Furbies but were stuffed with small batteries and delicate wiring. Curious kids could easily break them open and swallow pieces.
4. Taco Bell Star Wars Cup Toppers (2002)
PJ Gal-Szabo on Unsplash
These collectible figures were meant to sit on drink lids but were detachable and pointy. A hard fall or a mouth-happy toddler turned these into potential injury tools.
5. Wendy’s Water-Squirting Hamburgers (1980s)
Runner1928 on Wikimedia Commons
Shaped like mini burgers, these squirters encouraged kids to spray water at each other, but the nozzles often came off. That tiny piece was just waiting to be swallowed.
6. McDonald’s Batman Forever Glasses (1995)
Jurij Kenda on Unsplash
They were meant to be fancy collectible glass cups, but they were heavy and breakable. Dropping one on a kitchen floor was basically creating instant shards of danger.
7. Burger King Scooby-Doo Glow-in-the-Dark Toys (1990s)
Ismail Hadine on Unsplash
Some of these toys used glow paint with questionable materials. If kids chewed on them — as kids do — they risked ingesting unsafe substances.
8. McDonald’s “Creepy Crawlers” Bug Makers (1990s)
Janet Ganbold on Unsplash
This promotion let kids create rubbery bugs using a heating element. Yep, McDonald’s handed out a toy that required hot plates to function.
9. Sonic the Hedgehog Roller Toys (1993)
Hector31298 on Flickr
These speedy figures were mounted on mini wheels meant to race across tables. The problem? Those wheels popped off and rolled straight into toddlers’ mouths.
10. Taco Bell Batman Frisbees (1993)
Andrew Valdivia on Unsplash
They seemed innocent enough, but the rigid plastic edges could leave some nasty cuts. A backyard toss could quickly become a trip for bandages.
11. McDonald’s Happy Meal “Bubble Blowers” (1980s)
Fakhrir Amrullah on Unsplash
Tiny plastic blowers with soapy liquid seemed harmless until kids drank the solution. Plus, the wands were small enough to swallow whole.
12. Burger King Pokémon Spinner Tops (1999)
Kseniia Ilinykh on Unsplash
Another Pokémon-era toy that spun like a mini Beyblade, these tops had sharp tips and hard edges. They could leave scratches or worse if launched the wrong way.