McDonald’s Sued Over Its Menu: Here Are the Facts
McDonald’s is facing a consumer lawsuit in the United States over alleged misleading marketing of its McRib menu item. A federal judge rejected the company’s request to dismiss the case, which claims the product’s name and shape led customers to believe they were buying pork ribs.
US District Judge April Perry in Chicago said the consumers’ claims could not simply be dismissed. She said the allegation that the McRib’s name and appearance made customers think it contained pork ribs required further examination.
“The plaintiffs’ understanding of ‘McRib’ is not unreasonable or merely fanciful,” Perry wrote in her ruling, as quoted by Reuters on Monday (2 November 2026).
The plaintiffs allege that McDonald’s deliberately moulded the McRib patty with ridges resembling pork rib bones. They argue that this could lead consumers to believe the sandwich contained rib meat, a cut known for being more expensive, fattier and distinctive in flavour.
The consumers also claim they paid a higher price for a product that actually uses other cuts of pork, such as shoulder. They argue that the alleged use of lower-quality ingredients means the McRib does not meet their expectations for its price.
Perry said McDonald’s official website describes the McRib only as a pork sandwich. However, consumers should not have to conduct research before buying a US$7 (around Rp126,700) fast-food sandwich. The judge also said advertisements highlighting the patty’s rib-like shape could support an allegation of intent to mislead, although further evidence is still required.
McDonald’s had argued that a reasonable consumer would not be misled by the distinctive name McRib. The company also said that customers’ preferences for particular cuts of meat do not, by themselves, make its marketing fraudulent.
In a statement, McDonald’s denied using heart, tripe or stomach in the McRib and insisted that it is transparent about the ingredients. “This lawsuit distorts the facts and the claims are without merit,” the company said.
Meanwhile, plaintiffs’ lawyer Thiago Coelho said his clients would continue to seek accountability for the alleged misleading marketing practices.
McDonald’s has sold the McRib periodically since 1981. The case adds to a series of lawsuits in the US against fast-food chains over alleged discrepancies between how products appear in advertisements and what consumers receive, including cases involving McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s.