McDonald’s facing class-action suit over fan-favorite ‘McRib’ sandwich
McDonald’s, famous for its rib-shaped McRib sandwich, is facing a federal class-action lawsuit alleging the chain misled millions of customers by presenting the sandwich as containing real pork rib meat.
The complaint, filed on December 23 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, challenges the name and presentation of the McRib. Plaintiffs argue that a reasonable consumer would expect the sandwich to contain actual rib meat, when in reality it is made from restructured pork, which the lawsuit claims can include parts such as shoulder, heart, tripe, and scalded stomach.
A McDonald’s spokesperson told The Independent that these claims are false. “The McRib doesn’t include hearts, tripe, or scalded stomach,” the spokesperson said. “It’s made with 100 percent boneless pork, barbecue sauce, onions, and pickles.”
“This lawsuit distorts the facts, and many of the claims are inaccurate. Food quality and safety are at the heart of everything we do, which is why we use real, high-quality ingredients across our entire menu,” the spokesperson added. “Our fan-favorite McRib sandwich is made with 100 percent U.S.-sourced pork, and we’ve always been transparent about our ingredients so guests can make informed choices.”
The lawsuit lists 16 claims, including fraud, breach of warranty, contract violations, and violations of state consumer protection laws. It also argues that the McRib’s intermittent presence on McDonald’s menu discourages customers from closely examining its ingredients.
Plaintiffs Peter Le, Charles Lynch, Dorien Baker, and Derrick Wilson are seeking federal class certification on behalf of millions of McRib buyers over the past four years, along with subclass certifications in California, New York, Illinois, and Washington, D.C.
Introduced in 1982, the McRib has returned to the McDonald’s menu sporadically over the decades. The boneless sandwich is shaped to look like a rack of ribs, complete with ridges designed to resemble bones. Its limited availability has cultivated a global fan base, many of whom track its returns using the dedicated McRib Locator website.
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