McDonald's facing lawsuit over popular McRib sandwich

McDonald's has been hit with a class action lawsuit over its fan-favourite McRib sandwich.

For those unfamiliar, the McRib consists of boneless pork, dipped in barbecue sauce, topped with onions and pickles, and served on a toasted bun.

It's available seasonally in different stores around the world, but is most popular with foodies in the US.

As we say, though, some McDonald's fans have found an issue with the name of the beloved product, accusing it of being misleading.

According to The Independent, the complaint in question is 45 pages long and was filed on 23 December 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by Peter Le, Charles Lynch, Dorien Baker, and Derrick Wilson.

The complaint alleges that the term 'McRib' and the 'rib-shaped patty' lead customers to believe the sandwich contains real rib meat when it does not.

The McRib has become a firm fan favourite over the years (PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images)

According to the suit, the McRib is made from lower-quality restructured pork that combines cuts such as shoulder, heart, tripe, and scalded stomach, none of which qualify as rib meat.

"By including the word "Rib" in the name of the McRib, as well as by going out of its way to shape the sandwich’s patty into the shape of a pork rib, McDonald’s knows or should know that consumers are so misled," stated the complainants, as reported by MailOnline.

The documents allege 16 legal claims, including breach of warranty, breach of contract, fraud, and violations of state consumer protection laws.

The publication also reports that it seeks to represent a 'nationwide class of consumers who purchased a McRib in the past four years, along with state-specific subclasses in California, New York, Illinois and Washington, DC'.

However, McDonald's stated in a statement to Tyla that the McRib contains '100 per cent' boneless pork, adding that no hearts, tripe, or scalded stomach are included.

It reads: "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.

McDonald's said in a statement that the lawsuit is 'inaccurate' (David Paul Morris/Getty Images)

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

The suit also alleges that the product's so-called false advertising was used to sell the McRib at premium prices.

"The McRib is among the most expensive individual menu items at McDonald’s, often priced higher than burgers made with 100% beef patties," it reads.

The McRib was first introduced to the McDonald's menu in 1981 and has since developed a dedicated following, with fans tracking its limited-time appearances on menus.