McDonald’s faces class action lawsuit over McRib
A group of factory owners has filed a class action lawsuit in Illinois accusing McDonald’s of lying about the ingredients in its McRib.
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McDonald’s is pushing back against a class-action lawsuit alleging that it misled customers by advertising its McRib as a rib sandwich, even though its patties are allegedly made from other pork parts.
The fast food chain says the McRib is made with seasoned boneless pork, dipped in tangy BBQ sauce, topped with onion slices and tangy pickles, and served on toasted home-style bread.
But according to a lawsuit filed Dec. 23 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on behalf of four plaintiffs, lawyers argue that the “McRib” is not an accurate representation of the sandwich’s actual contents.
“Despite its name and distinctive shape (the meat patty is intentionally made to resemble a rack of pork ribs), the McRib does not contain any actual pork rib meat,” the lawyers wrote in the lawsuit, obtained by USA TODAY.
The complaint alleges that the company used ground parts of “low-grade pork products such as pork shoulder, heart, tripe, and burnt stomach” to make the meat patties, a claim McDonald’s denies.
“These very misleading attributes are what drives the sandwich’s sales and are why McDonald’s keeps bringing it back,” the complaint says.
McDonald’s USA said in a statement to USA TODAY on January 5 that the lawsuit “misrepresents the facts and many of the claims are inaccurate.”
Here’s what else McDonald’s and the lawyers behind the lawsuit said about the McRib:
McDonald’s says its McRib is made with 100% pork sourced from U.S. farmers.
McDonald’s began selling the McRib in 1981, but removed it from the menu in 1985 due to poor sales. It was revived from 1989 to 2004, then held a “farewell tour” from 2005 to 2007, revived in 2020, and returned for a limited time in major cities in the United States from 2024 to 2025.
McDonald’s often announces the return of the sandwich with a catchy slogan: “The McRib is back.” According to fan website mcriblocator.com, the sandwiches typically cost between $3.99 and $7.99.
McDonald’s USA said in a statement to USA TODAY on January 5 that the company takes food quality and safety seriously.
“We are committed to using authentic, high-quality ingredients throughout our menu,” McDonald’s USA wrote. “Our fan-favorite McRib sandwiches are made with 100% pork sourced from farmers and suppliers across the United States. We’re always transparent about our ingredients to help our guests make the right choices.”
The company says customers can check what’s in their food at any time through the McDonald’s website, the McDonald’s app or through the company’s kiosks located inside restaurants.
According to the lawsuit, pork belly is harvested from the muscle and fat of a pig’s rib cage and is typically made into spare ribs or baby back ribs, both of which are considered premium cuts of pork. Lawyers claim McDonald’s misled customers by calling the sandwich the McRib.
Survey shows people care about what kind of meat is in their McRib sandwich, lawyer says
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs conducted two consumer surveys in which consumers viewed actual McRib ads and listed the types of meat they expected to find in the McRib.
Options included ribs, pork, beef, chicken, and no meat, which the lawyers wrote in the complaint. Of the 215 respondents, 72% said they expected the McRib to include rib meat.
In the second survey, 174 respondents looked at an image of a McRib and answered the question, “When deciding whether to purchase, how important is it to you that the McRib is made with rib meat?”
67% of respondents said McRib meat is “important” or “very important” when deciding whether to purchase a sandwich.
Lawyers are seeking damages, attorney fees and interest from the participants in the class action lawsuit.
The lawyers also asked the court to order McDonald’s “to refrain from any further deceptive naming, marketing, or advertising practices related to the McRib.”
Contributor: Mike Snider, USA TODAY
Saleen Martin is a reporter for USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia (757). Email sdmartin@usatoday.com.
