A federal judge allows portions of a proposed class action to proceed over whether the sandwich’s name and shape mislead customers about its meat.
By Miles J. Edwards | A.T.L. N.E.W.S.
“Where’s the beef?!?!”
No, sorry. That was old commercial Wendy’s question. For the McDonald’s customers behind a proposed class action, the question is a little different: Where’s the rib? Wendy’s famous advertising line challenged what customers were getting between their hamburger buns. This dispute asks what customers should reasonably expect from a sandwich named the McRib.
On Oct. 30, U.S. District Judge April Perry in Chicago allowed portions of the lawsuit against McDonald’s to move forward, rejecting the company’s effort to have the entire case dismissed. Although Perry dismissed some claims, she found it premature to conclude that reasonable customers could not expect the McRib to contain pork rib meat, according to reporting by Reuters and USA TODAY. The decision allows litigation to continue; it does not establish that McDonald’s deceived customers.
The lawsuit, originally filed Dec. 23, 2025, in the Northern District of Illinois, challenges the combination of the McRib’s name, its molded rib shape and its marketing. Four consumers from California, New York, Illinois and Washington, D.C., allege that those features led them to believe they were buying a sandwich containing actual pork rib meat. They say they would have paid less, or passed on the purchase, had they understood otherwise.
Their argument goes beyond whether the sandwich contains pork. The plaintiffs contend that rib meat is a more valuable cut and that McDonald’s presentation creates an expectation about the particular meat customers are purchasing. The complaint also argues that limited availability and pricing reinforce the impression of a premium product. Those assertions remain allegations.
McDonald’s disputes the accusations. In a statement reported by Reuters and USA TODAY, the company rejected allegations that the patty contains hearts, tripe or stomach and maintained that it has been transparent about its ingredients.
“This lawsuit distorts the facts and the claims are meritless,” the company said.
On its U.S. product page, McDonald’s describes the McRib as seasoned boneless pork with barbecue sauce, slivered onions and pickles on a toasted homestyle bun. That description identifies pork without specifying rib meat.
A separate company explanation says the sandwich begins with ground pork pressed into a patty resembling a rack of ribs. McDonald’s even addresses the reason for that appearance: “Easy…it’s fun.”
Whether that playful presentation also communicates an ingredient claim is central to the dispute. McDonald’s argues that its branding does not mislead reasonable consumers. The plaintiffs argue that the name and appearance work together to promise something more specific than a pork sandwich. Perry’s ruling leaves that disagreement open for further proceedings.
For now, the McRib’s familiar ridges have become part of a courtroom argument about the relationship between branding and consumer expectations. The question facing McDonald’s is whether “rib” describes a recognizable shape, a cut of meat, or a promise customers reasonably believe comes with their order.
