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McDonald’s McRib lawsuit moves forward as judge rejects dismissal

Photo: McDonald's

November 3, 2026

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A proposed class action lawsuit challenging the ingredients and marketing of the McDonald's McRib sandwich is moving forward after a federal judge rejected the company's request to dismiss the case in its entirety, according to a story in Fox Business.

The ruling does not establish that McDonald's engaged in deceptive marketing. It also does not establish whether the sandwich ingredients violate consumer protection laws.

However, the Oct. 30 ruling follows a lawsuit first reported by QSRWeb in January, when four consumers accused McDonald's of misleading customers into believing the popular sandwich contains actual pork rib meat.

In this latest lawsuit, the plaintiffs allege the McRib's name, distinctive rib-shaped patty and marketing create the impression that it contains a premium cut of pork. Instead, the lawsuit claims the patty is made with lower-grade pork products, including shoulder, heart, tripe and scalded stomach.

U.S. District Judge April Perry, of the Northern District of Illinois, allowed claims involving consumer deception, fraud and unjust enrichment to proceed, while dismissing five other claims without prejudice. In rejecting McDonald's request to dismiss the case, Perry said it was too early to conclude that consumers could not reasonably expect a sandwich called the McRib to contain rib meat.

The plaintiffs also presented consumer survey findings indicating 72% of respondents expected the sandwich to contain rib meat, while 67% said rib meat was important to their purchasing decision.

McDonald's has denied the allegations, sending a statement to QSRWeb:

"This lawsuit distorts the facts and the claims are meritless. 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. Our fan-favorite McRib sandwich is made with 100% pork sourced from farmers and suppliers across the U.S. — there are no hearts, tripe or scalded stomach used in the McRib patty as falsely alleged in this lawsuit. We've always been transparent about our ingredients so guests can make the right choice for them."

McDonald's is poised to announce Q3 2026 earnings on Thursday.