Key Takeaways
- McDonald’s argues that customers shouldn’t expect rib meat in its McRib, but Judge April Perry allowed key claims in a proposed class-action lawsuit to proceed, writing that such an expectation “is not unreasonable or fanciful.”
- Four consumers allege the McRib’s name, rib-shaped patty and premium pricing imply pricier pork cuts, while McDonald’s maintains it uses 100% pork and denies allegations that it includes organ meats.
- The Oct. 30 ruling comes as McDonald’s brings the limited-time sandwich back to select U.S. markets following a regional rollout that began the week of Oct. 26.
McDonald's tried to convince a federal judge that nobody reasonably expects its famous McRib sandwich to contain actual rib meat. The judge wasn't ready to swallow that argument.
In an Oct. 30 ruling, U.S. District Judge April Perry rejected the fast-food giant's attempt to throw out key portions of a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing McDonald's of misleading customers about what's actually inside its cult-favorite sandwich. According to USA Today, although Perry dismissed some claims, she determined that consumers could reasonably interpret the McRib's name and appearance as a promise that they're getting pork rib meat.
"The Court cannot conclude that it would be unreasonable for a consumer to believe that the McRib contains rib meat," Perry wrote.
Four consumers filed the lawsuit in December 2025 in the Northern District of Illinois, arguing that McDonald's has been charging customers for something they're not actually getting. Their complaint alleges that the sandwich's name, distinctive rib-shaped patty, advertising, limited availability, and premium pricing create the impression that the McRib contains more expensive cuts of pork.
Instead, the plaintiffs allege McDonald's uses cheaper pork products, including shoulder meat and potentially heart, tripe, or stomach. McDonald's has categorically denied using those organ meats, maintaining that the McRib is made with 100% pork and that its ingredients have never been a secret.
"This lawsuit distorts the facts and the claims are meritless," a McDonald's spokesperson said.
But Perry wasn't persuaded that the company's ingredient disclosures automatically settled the question. While McDonald's website identifies the sandwich's meat as pork, the judge found that the McRib's branding could still influence what customers reasonably believe they're purchasing.
"Plaintiffs' proffered understanding of 'McRib' is not unreasonable or fanciful," Perry wrote.
Perry also indicated that advertising emphasizing the sandwich's rib-like appearance could support allegations of intentional deception, although additional evidence would be necessary.
First introduced in 1981, the barbecue-slathered sandwich has become one of the chain's most recognizable limited-time offerings. Its periodic disappearances and returns have helped build a devoted following, turning what amounts to a boneless pork sandwich into a recurring fast-food event.
The dispute also adds to McDonald's recent legal headaches. Earlier this year, a Texas woman sued the company after alleging that a Sausage McMuffin with Egg purchased at a Manhattan restaurant caused serious illness and required multiple medical procedures.
