A federal judge in Chicago has ruled that McDonald’s must move forward with a class action lawsuit alleging the company misled customers about what actually goes into its seasonal McRib sandwich. At the heart of the legal battle is whether the burger’s signature ridged shape tricks diners into believing they are eating expensive rib meat when they are actually consuming lower-grade pork cuts. Plaintiffs argue that by mimicking the look of real ribs, the company induced people to pay a premium price for a product that doesn’t contain the specific cut of meat suggested by its name.
In her decision, U.S. District Judge April Perry dismissed several parts of the case but rejected McDonald’s attempt to throw out the main accusation entirely. She noted that it would be unrealistic to expect every customer to conduct extensive research before purchasing a seven dollar fast food item, especially when the official website simply lists the ingredient as pork. Perry wrote that expecting a sandwich named the McRib to actually feature rib meat is not an unreasonable conclusion for a typical consumer to reach.
McDonald’s has pushed back strongly against these allegations, insisting that their marketing is truthful and that distinct product names aren’t designed to deceive anyone. In a public statement, the company denied using offal like hearts or stomachs in the recipe and characterized the entire lawsuit as meritless and distorted. They maintain that there is no fraudulent intent behind how they brand or shape their limited-time offer, which has appeared on menus sporadically since 1981.
This legal clash follows a broader trend of litigation targeting major fast food brands over how they present their food. Similar suits have hit giants like Burger King and Wendy’s, often focusing on discrepancies between glossy advertisements and the actual size of burgers served at counters. For now, attorney Thiago Coelho says his clients remain committed to holding McDonald’s accountable for what they describe as deceptive marketing practices regarding one of the chain’s most famous cult classics.