Happy Meal toys haven’t always been fun and games
Happy Meal toys overall have been a huge draw for children — and, of course, their parents — for more than 30 years, and a big hit for McDonald’s Corp. that has been copied by many other fast-food companies. But in spite of all the work and safety mechanisms in place to produce the toys, even Mickey D can sometimes trip up.
Hits
Teenie Beanie Babies
The cuddly stuffed toys were so huge in the late ’90s that two women at a McDonald’s in Green Bay, Wisc., got in a punch-up in line at a 1998 launch of the collectibles. They became the most demanded toy in Happy Meal history, selling more than 100 million in the first year.
Smurfs
They remain a big collectors’ item, selling for much more than the plastic they’re made of. Handy Smurf circa 2011, for instance, goes for $46 on amazon.ca.
My Little Pony
When McDonald’s launched genderspecific toys in the 1980s, My Little Pony made its first appearance.
The first generation included six ponies and later versions had figures with brushable hair and a comb accessory.
Cabbage Patch Kids
Though they aren’t worth as much as the big dolls — which remain one of the top toys of the past 50 years — they are still a hot collectors item on eBay, depending on the condition they’re in.
Misses
Hello Kitty whistle
In November 2014, about 2.3 million Hello Kitty whistles were recalled after the company discovered components of the whistle could detach, posing a choking hazard. McDonald’s says it was a voluntary recall.
Playmobil toys
In 1982, the fast-food giant had to recall about 10 million Happy Meal Playmobil toys after it was determined they failed to comply with U.S. regulations designed to prevent choking hazards to children under 3 years old. The toys in the collection included a sheriff, an umbrella girl and a farmer.
Caveman Minions, 2015
Although there was no recall, there was an uproar this summer among some parents who took to YouTube, social media and the company’s customer service line to complain about what sounded like a swear word uttered by one of the cute toys. The company said the toy did not use the f-word, and was merely speaking “Minionese.”