CHICAGO (MarketWatch) – McDonald’s Corp. will voluntarily recall 12 million collectible drinking glasses themed after the movie character Shrek because the painted design on the glasses contains cadmium, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday.

The leading fast-food chain (MCD 67.24, -0.61, -0.90%) had been selling the glasses for $2 each as part of a promotion for the movie “Shrek Forever After 3D,” a production of DreamWorks Animation (DWA 29.51, +0.09, +0.29%) . They were made by Arc International of Millville, N.J.

Long-term exposure to cadmium, the CPSC said in its recall notice, “can cause adverse health effects.” The Occupational Safety and Health Administration notes on its Web site that the substance is extremely toxic and that it’s used in producing paint and coatings, batteries and other products.

Shares of McDonald’s, part of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, slipped nearly 1% to $67.31 in morning trading, less than the broader pullback by the blue-chip benchmark.

William Spain is a MarketWatch staff writer in Chicago.

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