McDonald’s Facing Class Action Over McRib Advertising

Last month, a class action lawsuit was initiated against McDonald’s regarding its much-loved McRib. The lawsuit, filed on December 23 in the U.S. District Court in Chicago, claims that the fast-food giant misrepresents its product in its advertisements.

The four individuals involved in the lawsuit are from various cities: Peter Lee (California), Charles Lynch (New York), Darian Baker (Illinois), and Darick Wilson (Washington, DC).

The plaintiffs argue that the McRib “does not contain any meaningful amount of actual pork rib meat; in fact, it does not contain any actual pork rib meat at all.” They assert that McDonald’s uses lower-quality meat alternatives like pork shoulder, heart, tripe, or burnt stomach instead.

Interestingly, when the McRib returned in December 2024, it was priced among the most expensive items on the menu, surpassing even the Big Mac. This led the plaintiffs to express disbelief: “If I had known the McRib didn’t contain real pork rib meat, I wouldn’t have bought it—or I would have expected to pay less.”

In response to the lawsuit, McDonald’s released a statement, stating, “This lawsuit misrepresents 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 strive to provide authentic, high-quality food across our menus.” They assured consumers that the McRib is made with 100% pork sourced from U.S. farmers and suppliers.

Moreover, McDonald’s rebutted specific claims about the ingredients of the McRib. They clarified that the sandwich is made from “100% seasoned boneless pork,” denying the presence of any pork heart, tripe, or charred stomach.

The lawsuit highlights that the marketing for the McRib could be seen as “materially misleading,” possibly swaying consumer purchasing choices. It’s worth noting that the McRib was first introduced back in Kansas City in 1981.