McDonald’s Gets Sued Over the McRib — Because It’s Not Actually a Rib

The McRib is back in the news — and not because it’s back on the menu.

McDonald’s is facing a class-action lawsuit that claims the fast-food giant misled customers by marketing the McRib as a pork “rib” sandwich, even though it contains no actual rib meat.

According to the lawsuit, the issue isn’t that the McRib is pork — it is — but that the name and rib-shaped patty allegedly lead reasonable customers to believe they’re eating pork rib meat, rather than a restructured, boneless pork product.

In other words:

-It looks like ribs. -It’s called a rib. -But it’s not ribs.

The complaint argues that the McRib’s branding creates the impression of a premium cut of meat, when in reality the sandwich is made from ground pork formed into a rib-like shape, then covered in barbecue sauce, onions, and pickles.

McDonald’s has pushed back hard.

The company says the lawsuit “distorts the facts” and points out that it has always described the sandwich as boneless pork, made from 100% pork sourced in the U.S. McDonald’s maintains it has been transparent about what the McRib actually is — even if the name has been doing a little creative heavy lifting for decades.

The case was filed in federal court in Illinois and seeks class-action status, damages, and changes to how the McRib is marketed.

Whether the lawsuit goes anywhere remains to be seen — but the internet has already reached a verdict. For many fans, the revelation that the McRib isn’t made from ribs feels less like a scandal and more like learning that wrestling is scripted.

Disappointing? Maybe. Surprising? Not really. Still going to eat it? Also yes.

After all, the McRib has never pretended to be fine dining, just a seasonal reminder that barbecue sauce can solve almost anything.