**Lawsuit Alleges McDonald’s McRib Contains No Real Rib Meat**
McDonald’s offers a wide array of food items, many of which have been menu staples for decades. Among these, the McRib sandwich has become a favorite with a cult-like following. However, despite its popularity, McDonald’s is now facing a class-action lawsuit over the very product that has garnered such fanfare.
On December 23, 2025, a lawsuit was filed in the US District Court in Chicago alleging that McDonald’s engaged in false advertising by marketing the McRib as a rib product when it reportedly contains no real rib meat. The suit claims that the McRib patty is a “restructured” product made from a mixture of pork shoulder, heart, tripe, and scalded stomach.
### Complaint Against McDonald’s: What’s Really Inside the Patty?
The plaintiffs named in the lawsuit are Peter Le of Baldwin Park, California; Charles Lynch of Poughkeepsie, New York; Darrick Wilson of Washington, DC; and Dorien Baker of Chicago. They are seeking federal class-action status to represent millions of McRib customers over the past four years. Additionally, the lawsuit includes legal subclasses focused on buyers in California, New York, Illinois, and Washington.
According to CBS News, the lawsuit asserts that while customers believe they are eating real pork rib meat, the reality is quite different. Despite the sandwich’s name and the patty’s rib-like shape, the legal filing claims the McRib contains no actual rib meat.
The complaint states that the patty is made from a “restructured” mixture of lower-grade pork ingredients, including pork shoulder, heart, tripe, and scalded stomach—far from McDonald’s advertised description. The fast-food giant previously described the McRib as:
*“The McRib starts with seasoned boneless pork dipped in a tangy BBQ sauce, topped with slivered onions and tangy pickles, all served on a toasted homestyle bun.”*
The lawsuit also calls the sandwich’s name a “deliberate sleight of hand.” It argues that by including the word “Rib,” McDonald’s knowingly deceives reasonable consumers, who expect the product to contain at least some meaningful amount of actual pork rib meat—a premium ingredient.
### McDonald’s Responds to Allegations
In response to the complaint, McDonald’s denied the allegations that the McRib contains scalded stomach, hearts, tripes, or other such ingredients. The Chicago-headquartered fast-food chain affirmed that the patties are made from 100 percent boneless pork. Furthermore, McDonald’s reiterated that the sandwich is seasoned with pickles, barbecue sauce, and onions only.
As this case unfolds, it raises questions about transparency in fast food marketing and what consumers can truly expect when ordering iconic menu items like the McRib.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/mcdonalds-slapped-lawsuit-over-mcrib-sandwich-alleged-rib-less-meat-patty-1768120
