A Chicago-based McDonald’s is going through a class-action lawsuit over the McRib sandwich, accusing the company of deceptive clients with claims that it comprises precise pork rib meat.
The lawsuit, filed on Dec. 23, 2025 in U.S. District Court docket in Chicago and considered by International Information, mentioned that McDonald’s has “cultivated a way of anticipation across the McRib, leveraging its shortage to drive gross sales throughout its many areas.”
“Followers eagerly await every return, trusting that the sandwich they’re biting into is strictly what the identify implies: a sandwich crafted utilizing pork ‘rib’ meat, which is prized by shoppers for its excessive fats content material and wealthy taste,” the swimsuit reads. “The truth, nevertheless, is much from what McDonald’s promoting and branding counsel. Regardless of its identify and distinctive form—its meat patty has been intentionally crafted to resemble a rack of pork ribs.”
McDonald’s describes the McRib as a “seasoned boneless pork dipped in a tangy BBQ sauce, topped with slivered onions and tangy pickles, all served on a toasted homestyle bun.”
However the lawsuit, filed by 4 shoppers from California, New York, Illinois and Washington, D.C., alleges that the McRib “doesn’t comprise any precise pork rib meat in any respect.”
“As an alternative, its meat patty is reconstructed utilizing ground-up parts of lower-grade pork merchandise similar to, inter alia, pork shoulder, coronary heart, tripe and scalded abdomen,” the lawsuit reads.
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The submitting notes that the identify of the sandwich “is a deliberate sleight of hand.”
“By together with the phrase ‘Rib’ within the identify of the sandwich, McDonald’s knowingly markets the sandwich in a approach that deceives affordable shoppers, who moderately (however mistakenly) imagine {that a} product named the ‘McRib’ will embody no less than some significant amount of precise pork rib meat, which instructions a premium value available on the market,” the lawsuit states. “McDonald’s does this regardless of figuring out that the sandwich in reality doesn’t comprise any significant amount of precise pork rib meat—certainly, none in any respect.”
The lawsuit additional alleges that buyers have been misled “because of McDonald’s misleading labeling and advertising and marketing into buying sandwiches that they might not in any other case have bought, or would solely have paid much less for, had they recognized the reality.”
“By together with the phrase ‘Rib’ within the identify of the McRib, in addition to by going out of its method to form the sandwich’s patty into the form of a pork rib, McDonald’s is aware of or ought to know that buyers are so misled,” the swimsuit mentioned. “Actually, it’s exactly these deceptive attributes that drive gross sales of the sandwich, which is why McDonald’s continues to deliver it again time after time.”
Every plaintiff claims they might have by no means bought the McRib or would have paid much less for it if that they had recognized it didn’t comprise any pork rib meat.
The lawsuit accuses McDonald’s of fraudulent omission or concealment, fraudulent misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and different counts.
“McDonald’s misleading omissions and deceptive advertising and marketing have resulted in hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in client hurt, warranting authorized cures together with compensatory damages, restitution, and injunctive aid to forestall additional misleading promoting practices,” the swimsuit provides.
McDonald’s USA issued a statement to NBC Chicago concerning the lawsuit, claiming that it “distorts the details and lots of the claims are inaccurate.”
“Meals high quality and security are on the coronary heart of every thing we do – that’s why we’re dedicated to utilizing actual, high quality elements throughout our total menu. Our fan-favorite McRib sandwich is made with 100% pork sourced from farmers and suppliers throughout the U.S. We’ve all the time been clear about our elements so friends could make the correct selection for them,” the assertion from McDonald’s learn.
The plaintiffs are looking for class certification for anybody who bought a McRib within the 4 years previous to the submitting of the criticism, an order enjoining McDonald’s to desist from additional misleading naming, advertising and marketing and promoting practices with respect to the McRib, and damages for sophistication members of “compensatory, exemplary, and punitive cures and damages and statutory penalties, together with curiosity, in an quantity to be confirmed at trial,” in accordance with the swimsuit.
They’re additionally looking for an award of legal professionals’ charges and prices and “an award of prejudgment and publish judgment curiosity.”
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