Severity
Moderate
McDonald’s Recalls “Step-iT” Activity Wristbands Due to Risk of Skin Irritation or Burns
Reported: August 23, 2016 Initiated: August 23, 2016 #16247 About 29 million units in the U.S. (in addition, about 3.6 million units in Canada) units
McDonald's Corp., of Oakbrook, Ill. issued this CPSC recall on August 23, 2016. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately About 29 million units in the U.S. (in addition, about 3.6 million units in Canada) units are affected. The recall was issued because: The recalled wristbands can cause skin irritation or burns to children.. This recall notice is sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.
Recall Insight
This CPSC action (record #16247) was formally reported on August 23, 2016. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. McDonald's Corp., of Oakbrook, Ill. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 29 million units in the U.S. (in addition, about 3.6 million units in Canada) units are affected.
The documented reason for this recall is: The recalled wristbands can cause skin irritation or burns to children. Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should immediately take the recalled wristbands from children and return them to any McDonald's for a free replacement toy and either a yogurt tube or bag of apple slices. — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.
To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 6 were also issued by CPSC. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 10 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.
Recall Distribution by Severity Class
Units Affected
About 29 million units in the U.S. (in addition, about 3.6 million units in Canada)
Related Recalls
6
6 from same agency
Product Description
This recall involves "Step-iT" activity wristbands, which come in two styles-"Activity Counter" and a motion-activated "Light-up Band." The Activity Counter comes in translucent plastic orange, blue or green and features a digital screen that tracks a child's steps or other movement. The Light-up Band comes in translucent plastic red, purple, or orange and blinks light with the child's movement. Both styles of activity wristbands have a square face with the words "STEP-iT" printed on them and a button to depress and activate the wristband. The back of the square face contains the etched words "Made for McDonald's."
Reason for Recall
The recalled wristbands can cause skin irritation or burns to children.
Remedy
Consumers should immediately take the recalled wristbands from children and return them to any McDonald's for a free replacement toy and either a yogurt tube or bag of apple slices.
Details
- Recalling Firm
- McDonald's Corp., of Oakbrook, Ill.
- Units Affected
- About 29 million units in the U.S. (in addition, about 3.6 million units in Canada)
Recall Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission |
| Severity class | Moderate |
| Status | Active |
| Recall number | 16247 |
| Date reported | August 23, 2016 |
| Date initiated | August 23, 2016 |
| Recalling firm | McDonald's Corp., of Oakbrook, Ill. |
| Units affected | About 29 million units in the U.S. (in addition, about 3.6 million units in Canada) |
| Distribution | Not disclosed |
Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What product was recalled? ▼
This recall involves "Step-iT" activity wristbands, which come in two styles-"Activity Counter" and a motion-activated "Light-up Band." The Activity Counter comes in translucent plastic orange, blue or green and features a digital screen that tracks a child's steps or other movement. The Light-up Band comes in translucent plastic red, purple, or orange and blinks light with the child's movement. Both styles of activity wristbands have a square face with the words "STEP-iT" printed on them and a button to depress and activate the wristband. The back of the square face contains the etched words "Made for McDonald's.". Recalled by McDonald's Corp., of Oakbrook, Ill.. Units affected: About 29 million units in the U.S. (in addition, about 3.6 million units in Canada).
Why was this product recalled? ▼
The recalled wristbands can cause skin irritation or burns to children.
What should consumers do? ▼
Consumers should immediately take the recalled wristbands from children and return them to any McDonald's for a free replacement toy and either a yogurt tube or bag of apple slices.
Which agency issued this recall? ▼
This recall was issued by the CPSC on August 23, 2016. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 16247.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall? ▼
Check the product description and recall number (16247) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product? ▼
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.
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Recall Context
Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as moderate severity, indicating the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.
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Data Sources
Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.
- Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
- Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
- Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
- Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)
Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic + housing + income data. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage + employment by occupation. bls.gov/oes
- BEA Regional Economic Accounts — GDP + personal income by state/metro. bea.gov/data/regional
- U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — establishment + employment by industry. census.gov/cbp
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-return aggregate data. irs.gov/statistics
- data.gov — U.S. federal open-data portal — discovery layer for additional federal sources. data.gov
Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).