Federal Judge Lets McRib Class Action Proceed
A U.S. district judge in Illinois denied McDonald's request to dismiss a class action alleging deceptive marketing of its McRib sandwich, allowing the case to move forward.
A federal judge in Illinois has rejected McDonald's motion to dismiss a class action that claims the chain misrepresented its McRib sandwiches. The lawsuit, filed in December 2025, alleges the company marketed the sandwiches as "premium" pork rib products while using lower-grade pork meat that does not contain actual rib meat. The plaintiffs argue that the product description on McDonald's website, which lists a "McRib Pork Patty," fails to clarify the nature of the meat, leading consumers to believe they were purchasing rib-style sandwiches.
"We've always been transparent about our ingredients so guests can make the right choice for them," McDonald's said in a statement to ABC News, calling the lawsuit meritless and saying it distorts the facts.
The court gave McDonald's until Nov. 20 to file a formal response to the complaint, and the case will now proceed through the litigation process.