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McDonald’s Sued Over McRib Meat Claims
A new lawsuit says McDonald's misled customers by calling its McRib a “rib” sandwich even though it does not use pork rib meat.
Martina Osmak
Director of Marketing
What is this lawsuit about?
Four customers have filed a class-action lawsuit in a U.S. federal court in Illinois.
They say McRib marketing makes people believe the sandwich contains real pork rib meat.
According to the lawsuit, this belief is not true.
What do the customers claim?
The lawsuit says:
The name “McRib” makes people think the meat comes from pork ribs
The meat patty is shaped like ribs, which adds to the confusion
The sandwich actually uses processed pork, not rib meat
Some customers paid a higher price because they believed it was a premium product
The people suing say they would not have bought the sandwich, or would have paid less, if they knew this earlier.
What meat do the plaintiffs say is used?
The court filing claims the McRib is made from ground pork taken from cheaper cuts, such as pork shoulder and other pork parts, instead of rib meat.
They argue this is very different from what customers expect when they see the word “rib.”
How much does the McRib cost?
The lawsuit notes that the McRib can cost close to $8 in some locations.
Because pork ribs are usually seen as a higher-quality cut, the plaintiffs say the price feels unfair if rib meat is not included.
What does McDonald’s say?
McDonald’s strongly disagrees with the lawsuit.
In a statement, the company said:
The claims “distort the facts”
The McRib is made with 100% pork
The company has always been clear about its ingredients
Food quality and safety are very important to them
McDonald’s also says customers can check ingredient details before buying.
Why does the McRib matter so much?
The McRib first appeared in 1981.
It is not sold all the time, which makes people excited when it returns.
The lawsuit argues that this limited availability creates urgency, so customers buy quickly without questioning what the meat really is.
What are the plaintiffs asking for?
The customers want the court to:
Allow the case to cover many buyers, not just four people
Award money to customers who bought the McRib
Order McDonald’s to change how it names and markets the sandwich
Stop what they call misleading advertising
What happens next?
The case is still in its early stages.
A judge will decide if it can move forward as a class-action lawsuit.
For now, the McRib remains on sale in some U.S. cities for a limited time.
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