McDonald’s has brought back the very popular McRib sandwich – first introduced in 1981 – for another of its periodic runs on the fast-food chain’s menu.
But diners in at least four states aren’t “lovin’ it.”
McDonald’s is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit filed by plaintiffs in California, New York, Illinois and the District of Columbia that questions the authenticity of the McRib and, more specifically, what it’s made of.
The complaint was filed last month in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and claims that marketing done by McDonald’s is deceptive, particularly making it seem as though the sandwich contains meat from pork ribs through its name, branding and appearance.
“The name ‘McRib’ is a deliberate sleight of hand,” the plaintiffs said in the filing, according to a report in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The McRib is a fan favorite sandwich with “limited edition” status the availability of which varies based on timing and location. It first popped up on McDonald’s menus in 1981. The chain brings the sandwich back annually, promoting it on social media.
“McDonald’s McRib is a sandwich of legend,” a 2009 Maxim article titled “The Cult of the McRib” said. “The heavenly blend of pork patty, barbecue sauce, and bun is, to devotees, so addictive that songs have been written about it, Internet shrines erected to it, and TV shows dedicated to it. … It is rarely seen, yet frequently sought and cultishly worshiped. It is the Holy Grail on a bun,” the Inquirer report pointed out.
McDonald’s describes the McRib as seasoned boneless pork dipped in BBQ sauce and topped with onions and pickles on a toasted bun. The sandwich is 520 calories and 24 grams of protein according to the McDonald’s website.
The McRib returned to some McDonald’s menus as part of its annual “farewell tour” in November 2025 and seems to still be available, the Inquirer reported. But the sandwich is limited to certain McDonald’s locations, including in Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle and St. Louis.
According to the fan-led McRib Tracker, there’s only a handful of states nationwide serving up McRibs right now. It ranges in price from about $4 to $8, depending on the region.
According to the Inquirer, the proposed class-action suit says the McRib’s name, pricing, and appearance — a rib-shaped patty on a bun — mislead consumers to believe they’re purchasing a premium pork rib product.
The complaint adds that the rib-shaped patty is made of “restructured” pork using lower-quality cuts of pork, including shoulder, heart, stomach and tripe instead of rib meat. McDonald’s has denied those claims.
All four plaintiffs say they wouldn’t have purchased the McRib, or paid as much as they did, if they knew the sandwich had no actual pork rib meat.
The proposed lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of U.S. consumers who bought the McRib in recent years and is seeking damages, restitution, and a remedy to prevent future “deceptive marketing.”
