A federal judge ruled Friday that McDonald’s must face the McRib lawsuit claiming the sandwich contains no real rib meat.
U.S. District Judge April Perry in Chicago rejected McDonald’s request to throw the case out entirely. She let the core claims of consumer deception, fraud and unjust enrichment move forward. Unjust enrichment is a claim that a company profited unfairly at its customers’ expense. The judge dismissed five other claims without prejudice, which means the customers can refile them later.
Four customers filed the proposed class action in December 2025. A class action lets a small group sue on behalf of everyone who bought the same product, so if the court certifies the class, McRib buyers across the country could be included.
The suit says McDonald’s shapes the McRib patty with ridges so it looks like a rack of pork ribs, leading people to believe they are eating rib meat, a pricier cut known for its fat and flavor. Instead, the customers allege the patty is made from lower grade pork parts, including pork shoulder, heart, tripe and stomach. They also point to a survey in which 67% of people said rib meat was an important factor in their decision to buy the McRib.
McDonald’s argued that no reasonable customer would expect a sandwich called the McRib to actually contain rib meat. Judge Perry said it was too early to accept that argument, and she found the customers’ understanding of the McRib name was not unreasonable or far fetched.
McDonald’s says the McRib is made with 100% pork and that it has been transparent about what goes into the sandwich. The company called the lawsuit a distortion of the facts and said the claims have no merit.
The ruling does not mean McDonald’s misled anyone. It means the case survived the company’s first attempt to shut it down. The customers still have to prove their claims, and the court has not certified the case as a class action.
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The decision landed just as McDonald’s brings the McRib back for another limited run. First sold in 1981, the sandwich features a boneless pork patty covered in barbecue sauce and topped with onions and pickles. Its periodic returns have built it a loyal following, and it is one of the most expensive items on the McDonald’s menu.
