Judge keeps McRib lawsuit alive

A federal judge in Illinois denied McDonald's request to throw out a class action lawsuit concerning the McRib sandwich on Tuesday. The ruling allows the legal challenge, first filed in December 2025, to proceed to the next stage of litigation.

The plaintiffs accuse the fast food chain of engaging in false representations and omissions. They argue that marketing the product as a "premium" pork rib sandwich was deceptive because the sandwich is deliberately crafted to resemble a rack of pork ribs but contains no pork rib meat.

According to the complaint, the sandwiches are made from lower-grade pork products instead of rib cuts. The plaintiffs stated that consumers were materially misled into purchasing the item or paying a higher price than they would have if they had known the ingredients.

McDonald's described the lawsuit as meritless in a statement to Reuters, arguing that the claims distort the facts. The company noted that its website lists the sandwich as containing a "McRib Pork Patty" without explicitly specifying whether it is made from pork ribs.

In a separate statement to ABC News, the company said it has always been transparent about its ingredients so guests can make the right choice for them. McDonald's has until November 20 to submit a formal response to the complaint.