A McDonald’s and Pokémon promotional deal in Japan was cut short on August 9, just hours after it began, due to overwhelming demand, food wastage, and card reselling. The promotion offered exclusive Pokémon cards with Happy Meals from August 9 to 11, sparking chaos similar to past Pokémon product launches.

Social media users criticized customers for buying meals solely for the cards and leaving the food behind, with images showing piles of uneaten Happy Meals discarded in and around McDonald’s outlets. One X user commented:  “Early morning chaos in Shibuya. McDonald’s burgers and fries scattered on the streets, turning into a feast for pigeons. We ask customers to take responsibility for the food they buy and properly dispose of trash,”.  Others complained that some buyers exploited the five-meal-per-person limit by using multiple accounts, then resold the cards online at inflated prices.

McDonald’s Japan apologized for the premature end of the campaign but did not address issues like poor crowd management or food waste. The incident echoes a January event in Singapore, where a card launch was cancelled due to a massive crowd and safety concerns.