US EditionMcDonald’s Japan Apologizes over Pokémon Happy Meals Frenzy
McDonald's Japan halted a Pokémon card giveaway after scalpers caused food waste and store disruptions, with some cards resold for thousands of yen, officials said.
- McDonald's Japan ended its Pokémon Happy Meal card promotion early from August 9 to 11, 2025, after stores quickly sold out due to overwhelming demand.
- The early halt followed large-scale purchases by resellers who ignored the five-per-person limit, causing congestion, arguments, and widespread food waste outside stores.
- The promotion included two collectible cards per meal, featuring a special Pikachu card and a random card from a set of five, which were resold for up to tens of thousands of yen online.
- McDonald's apologized for inadequate preparations and failing to meet customer expectations, vowed to return to its family-friendly basics, and announced plans to tighten purchase rules and prevent resale abuses.
- The incident contradicted McDonald’s longstanding philosophy of providing enjoyable family dining, prompting collaboration with third parties to curb scalping and avoid future food waste.
Insights by Ground AI
Does this summary seem wrong?
121 Articles
121 Articles
Fast food chain McDonald's has had to discontinue a Pokémon card campaign in Japan. During the promotion, customers received a Pokémon gift with their Happy Meal, but the cards were so popular that many fans ordered the children's menu without eating them. This led to considerable chaos and food waste in the restaurants.
·Antwerp, Belgium
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources121
Leaning Left20Leaning Right6Center47Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Center
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources are Center
64% Center
L 27%
C 64%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
