Fast-food giant McDonald's is facing a significant legal challenge in the United States, with a federal class-action lawsuit alleging it misled millions of customers over the contents of its iconic McRib sandwich.
The Core of the Legal Complaint
The 45-page lawsuit was filed on 23 December 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The plaintiffs, Peter Le, Charles Lynch, Dorien Baker, and Derrick Wilson, argue that the product's name and its distinctive rib-shaped patty would lead a reasonable consumer to believe the sandwich contains actual pork rib meat. They claim it contains none.
According to the legal filing, the McRib patty is made from restructured pork that combines various cuts. The complaint specifically mentions ingredients such as pork shoulder, heart, tripe, and scalded stomach, asserting that none of these qualify as traditional rib meat. The suit brings 16 separate legal claims, including allegations of fraud, breach of warranty, and violations of multiple state consumer protection laws.
McDonald's Firm Rejection and Product History
In response, a McDonald's spokesperson strongly rejected the lawsuit's allegations. The company stated the McRib is made with "100 percent boneless pork" and explicitly denied the inclusion of hearts, tripe, or scalded stomach. "This lawsuit distorts the facts and many of the claims are inaccurate," the spokesperson told The Independent.
The spokesperson emphasised the company's commitment to transparency and quality ingredients. The sandwich, a fan favourite introduced nationwide in 1982, is famously a limited-time offering, with its sporadic availability fuelling considerable hype and a dedicated following.
Seeking Class Action Status and Consumer Redress
The plaintiffs are seeking to represent a vast class of consumers. They aim to certify a nationwide class covering everyone who purchased a McRib in the four years preceding the lawsuit, along with specific subclasses for residents of California, New York, Illinois, and Washington, D.C.
The lawsuit argues that the sandwich's premium pricing is based on a misleading premise. Citing McRib Locator data, it notes the item averaged $5.63 in December 2024, with prices reaching as high as $7.89 in some locations—more than the average cost of a Big Mac during the same period.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages, restitution, and injunctive relief. If the court grants class certification, consumers who bought the McRib within the specified period could potentially join the legal action. The outcome hinges on whether the court agrees that the branding and shape of the McRib patty materially misled customers about its contents.
