McDonald’s facing class-action suit claiming McRib sandwich doesn't contain any rib meat

McDonald’s is being sued for alleged false advertising of its McRib sandwich.

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago on Dec. 23, the plaintiffs claim the fast-food chain’s McRib has no actual rib meat, but instead allegedly contains restructured pork made from the animal’s shoulder, heart, tripe, and scalded stomach.

McDonald’s debuted the McRib in the U.S. back in 1981, with the sandwich being on and off the menu over the years in several countries. In Canada, it was available until 2014, but made a surprise, limited-time return in January 2024.

In the U.S., the fast-food giant offers the rack-of-ribs-shaped sandwich during limited windows with ads announcing the sandwich’s return every time.

The plaintiffs, Peter Le of Baldwin Park, Calif.; Charles Lynch of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; Dorien Baker of Chicago; and Darrick Wilson of Washington, D.C., are seeking federal class certification on behalf of millions of McRib purchasers over the last four years and state-specific subclasses in California, New York, Illinois and Washington, D.C.

“The name ‘McRib’ is a deliberate sleight of hand. By including the word ‘Rib’ in the name of the sandwich, McDonald’s knowingly markets the sandwich in a way that deceives reasonable consumers, who reasonably (but mistakenly) believe that a product named the ‘McRib’ will include at least some meaningful quantity of actual pork rib meat, which commands a premium price on the market,” the lawsuit said. “McDonald’s does this despite knowing that the sandwich in fact does not contain any meaningful quantity of actual pork rib meat — indeed, none at all.”

Among the suit’s 16 legal claims are allegations of fraud, breach of warranty, contract violations and violations of state consumer protection laws.

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McDonald’s dismissed the claims made in lawsuit in a statement to The Independent.

“This lawsuit distorts the facts and many of the claims are inaccurate. Food quality and safety are at the heart of everything we do — that’s why we’re committed to using real, quality ingredients across our entire menu,” the spokesperson said.

“Our fan-favourite McRib sandwich is made with 100% pork sourced from farmers and suppliers across the U.S. We’ve always been transparent about our ingredients so guests can make the right choice for them.”