McDonald's recalls Hello Kitty Happy Meal toy for choking hazard

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- McDonald's has recalled about 2.3 million Hello Kitty whistles given out in Happy Meals across the U.S. due to a choking hazard.

McDonald's says two children have coughed out pieces of the whistle after they had sucked the pieces into their mouths. One of the children received medical attention.

The toy was distributed from October through the first week of November. It was given out in Mighty Kids Meals in addition to Happy Meals.

The whistle is red and comes with a plastic Hello Kitty figurine holding a pink heart-shaped lollipop. A picture of the character is also seen on both sides of the whistle.

The whistle is about 1 3/4 inches in height and width and 3/4 inches in depth, while the figurine measures about 3 inches in height and width and 1 3/4 inches in depth.

The text "1976, 2014 SANRIO CO., LTD." is printed above Hello Kitty's face on the whistle, and "Made for McDonald's China CCW Chine" appears below Hello Kitty's face on the whistle. The toy's wrapping includes the text "Hello Kitty Birthday Lollipop" and the number "6" in the upper right corner.

Customers are asked to return the toys to McDonald's immediately. They will receive a free replacement toy, and their choice of a yogurt tube or a bag of apple slices.

"Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our customers and this includes the toys we offer them," McDonald's officials said in a statement.

The restaurant chain also said that about 2.5 million whistles were made, but not all of them were distributed. So far, 1.6 million whistles have been recovered.

200,000 of the toys were also distributed in Canada.

Consumers who have other questions are asked to contact McDonald's at (800) 244-6227 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT, seven days a week, or at www.mcdonalds.com.