McDonald’s must face class action lawsuit over its McRib, judge rules: Why is the fan-favorite $7 sandwich facing fraud allegations?

A District Judge in Chicago has ruled that McDonald’s must face the class action lawsuit over its famed McRib sandwich. The company had moved the court to dismiss the suit accusing it of fraud.

The sandwich, which was released for a limited time and has been continuously discontinued over the years, also had a dedicated fanbase. McDonald’s launched it in 1981, but it has been re-added and removed several times. According to the company, the sandwich is made up of minced pork, the boneless patty is shaped like a rack of ribs. It also contains barbeque sauce, onions and pickles. The company recently announced the McRib was back for a limited release and can be found in cities including Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Philidelphia, Atlanta and Chicago, according to USA Today.

Why is the McRib facing a class action lawsuit?

The lawsuit which was filed in an Illinois court in December 2025 claims that the company’s marketing leads consumers into believing that the sandwich contains a premium cut of pork. It questions if the McRib’s name and shape could deceive customers into believing that it has rib meat.

According to the lawsuit, McDonald’s uses lower-grade pork products in the sandwich. This includes shoulder, heart or stomach. However, consumers are asked to pay a high price with the McRib being one of the fast food brand's most expensive products.

Allowing the lawsuit to proceed, the district judge, April Perry said, a $7 sandwich should not require consumers to investigate the cut of the meat in it. She further added that the company’s website only describes the contents of the sandwich as pork, not detailing the cut. Judge Perry added that McDonald’s marketing material showed the rib-like shape and “could support a claim of intent to defraud, though further proof was needed," according to Reuters.

Also read: From $1.46 billion Ether being stolen to hackers returning money: Here’s a look at some of the largest crypto heists as Binance hit with largest in history

What has McDonald’s said?

Countering the consumers’ claim McDonald’s has argued that any reasonable customer would not expect there to be rib meat in the sandwich. In a statement to CBS News, the company said, “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.”

The statement further added that the McRib sandwich is fully made with pork. The pork is sourced from farmers and other suppliers across the country. “We’ve always been transparent about our ingredients,” McDonald’s added.

This is not the first compliant McRib had faced

The McRib has earlier faced a Securities and Exchange Commission complaint in 2011. Filed by the Humane Society of the United States, the complaint was against Smithfield Foods, who are the producers of the McRib meat. The society alleged cruel treatment of animals used in the McRib meat production.