Judge Allows McRib 'Lack of Rib Meat' Lawsuit Against McDonald's to Proceed

A federal judge has allowed a proposed class action lawsuit accusing McDonald's of misleading customers about the meat in its McRib sandwich to proceed. US District Judge April Perry in Chicago rejected the company's attempt to dismiss the lawsuit, permitting claims of consumer deception, fraud, and unjust enrichment to move forward while dismissing five other claims without prejudice.

The lawsuit, filed by four consumers in December, alleges that the McRib patty is designed to resemble pork ribs despite containing no actual rib meat. The plaintiffs contend that the sandwich's name, appearance, and marketing lead consumers to believe they are purchasing a more expensive cut of pork.

Judge Perry determined that it was premature to dismiss the case, citing the plaintiffs' allegations regarding the sandwich's marketing and consumer survey data. One survey indicated that 72% of respondents expected the McRib to contain rib meat, and another found that 67% considered rib meat important to their purchasing decision.

The ruling does not establish that McDonald's engaged in deceptive advertising, but it allows these specific claims to continue.

McDonald's has denied the allegations, stating that the sandwich contains 100% pork sourced from U.S. farmers and suppliers. The company has previously stated that it does not use heart, tripe, or stomach in the McRib patty and that its publicly available ingredient list identifies pork as the primary ingredient.

McDonald's argued that the McRib's trademarked name should shield it from deceptive marketing claims, comparing it to other products like the McChicken and Egg McMuffin. However, Judge Perry rejected this argument, noting that the names of other McDonald's products also describe their ingredients.

Introduced in 1981, the McRib is a limited-time offering that features a boneless pork patty covered in barbecue sauce, with onions and pickles. It has developed a significant following during its periodic returns to McDonald's menus.