Law & Justice

McDonald’s McRib Faces Class‑Action Over Pricing and Ingredient Claims

By Garvit Bhirani

A proposed class‑action lawsuit alleges that McDonald’s misled consumers about the McRib sandwich’s ingredients and price. The complaint, filed in December 2025 by four consumers from California, New York, Illinois and Washington, D.C., claims that the sandwich’s name, advertising and rib‑shaped patty create the impression that it contains pork rib meat. According to the plaintiffs, the patty is made from restructured pork using lower‑grade cuts such as shoulder, heart, tripe and stomach, rather than actual rib meat. They argue that customers would not have bought the sandwich, or would have paid less, had they known what it contained.

The lawsuit also highlights the sandwich’s pricing. The complaint states that the McRib cost as much as $7.89 before tax at some U.S. outlets, making it one of the most expensive single‑item options on McDonald’s menu when available. A separate price comparison by Mashed found a McDonald’s outlet selling the sandwich for $5.99 this year, while a meal with fries and a drink cost $9.89. Prices vary by restaurant and location. In 2010, the sandwich reportedly cost $2.69 on its own and $5.59 as a meal.

McDonald’s has denied the allegations, saying the sandwich is made with 100% pork sourced from farmers and suppliers across the U.S. In a statement, the company said the lawsuit “distorts the facts and many of the claims are inaccurate” and that it has always been transparent about its ingredients.

On October 30, U.S. District Judge April Perry in Chicago rejected McDonald’s request to dismiss the proposed class action in its entirety, although some claims were dismissed. The judge noted that it was premature to accept the company’s argument that reasonable consumers would not expect the McRib to contain rib meat and that customers should not be expected to research the ingredients of a fast‑food sandwich before buying it. The ruling does not establish that McDonald’s misled customers or that the sandwich contains the ingredients alleged in the complaint. The case will continue, with the plaintiffs seeking accountability over the product’s marketing.

The McRib debuted in 1981, developed by McDonald’s chef René Arend as an alternative during a chicken shortage. Made with boneless, restructured pork and shaped to resemble a rack of ribs, the sandwich was served with barbecue sauce, onions and pickles. It was removed from menus in 1985 after weak repeat sales but has since become a recognizable limited‑time offering. The sandwich has sold 30 million units in 2007 and has been promoted as a farewell event in 2005, 2006, 2022, and again in 2023, 2024 and 2025. In October 2026, McDonald’s brought it back from October 27 for a limited period at select U.S. locations, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and Dallas. CEO Chris Kempczinski has described it as the “GOAT of sandwiches on our menu.”