McDonald’s Japan promises customers an adult cream pie

Here’s a fail that will become something of a classic. McDonald’s Japan has promised customers an “adult cream pie” experience for its latest release.

Is this some fantastic adult video that takes place inside branches of Mickey D’s? No, it’s a creamy, sweet pie.

But the unfortunate choice of naming has given this new dessert snack a whole other meaning.

McDonald’s calls the treat the “Otona no kuriimu pai” (大人のクリームパイ), which is available in two flavors from branches in Japan since January 15th. The name literally means “adult cream pie,” so you can imagine the response on social media when it was announced. Since the launch was announced, major international news outlets have also picked up on the story.

Did no one at the chain think to Google the phrase in English or Japanese? “Cream pie” is known locally in katakana, though it is not as common a sex slang phrase (“nakadashi” usually covers that meaning). Nonetheless, with “adult” (otona) next to it, the connotation is very strong. Surely a Google search would have rung immediate alarm bells!

The Adult Cream Pie is available for a limited time only. Right now we aren’t sure if the brouhaha and amusement over the naming fail will hurt sales or boost them.

Still, there have been worse and more costly fails. A university in Japan once had to change its name because it realized it literally had a “kinky” meaning.