US McDonald's recalls 2.5m Hello Kitty toys from Happy Meals due to 'choking risk'

The company has received two reports of children coughing out pieces of a red whistle which came with the Hello Kitty toy

McDonald's has recalled approximately 2.5 million Hello Kitty toys from its Happy Meals because they pose a risk of choking (McDonald's)

McDonald's in the US has recalled approximately 2.5 million Hello Kitty toys from its Happy Meals because they may pose a risk of choking.

The company said it had received two reports of children coughing out pieces of a red whistle which came with the Happy Meal Hello Kitty Birthday Lollipop Toy (#6).

The US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) said one of the children required medial attention following the incident.

The whistle, which can be removed from the rest of the toy, contains components which can become detached, posing a choking risk to young children, the company has said.

The CPSC has said about 2.3 million of the toys were distributed in the US, with a further 200,000 distributed in Canada.

McDonald's has said it has recovered roughly 70 per cent, or 1.6million, of the toys.

A spokesman said: "McDonald’s has received two reports of children who coughed out pieces of the whistle. We have expressed our sincere apologies to them.

"We are asking customers who have the toy to immediately take the whistle away from children and return it to their local McDonald’s restaurant. The whistle can be removed from the figurine.

"We’re happy to substitute this toy for another, and, in addition, we are offering the choice of either a yogurt tube or bag of apple slices."

The restaurant has said the toy had been tested by an independent laboratory, accredited by the CPSC, and found to be in comliance with legal requirements.