McDonald’s is bringing back collector’s meal cups featuring iconic characters like Grimace, Hello Kitty, and Shrek. These new cups are made of plastic, so there is no risk of harmful chemicals leaching into your drink like in the past. The fast-food chain announced that the new Happy Meal prizes will be available starting on August 13.
There are a total of six collector’s cups, each showcasing art inspired by characters and themes from previous Happy Meals. The themes include Coca-Cola, Beanie Babies, Hello Kitty, Peanuts, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Shrek, Jurassic Park, Minions, The Grimace Glass, Boo Buckets, and Funny Fry Friends.
Collector’s cups have always been a popular giveaway with McDonald’s Happy Meals, but some have had their fair share of controversies. The infamous 2010 Shrek recall involved 12 million glass cups being pulled off the shelves due to trace amounts of cadmium in the painted images. The new Shrek cup is safe from such issues, although concerns linger about microplastics potentially present in the soda consumed from these cups.
While these collector’s cups are great for display and tapping into nostalgia, the cost of McDonald’s Happy Meals has been steadily rising. A recent study highlighted price increases of over 40 percent on items like McGriddles and Big Macs since the pandemic. To combat this perception of overpricing, McDonald’s introduced a $5 meal earlier this summer. It remains to be seen if the collector’s cup promotion can generate the same excitement as the special edition Pokémon cards that came with Happy Meals in 2021.
Overall, McDonald’s is aiming to bring back the frenzy of collecting with these new collector’s cups. With colorful designs and beloved characters, these cups are sure to appeal to both young and old fans alike. So, if you’re a fan of McDonald’s memorabilia, keep an eye out for these new collector’s cups hitting stores soon.