Judge Denies McDonald's Bid to Dismiss McRib Class Action

A federal judge in Illinois has allowed a class action lawsuit against McDonald's to proceed, rejecting the company's motion to dismiss the case. The legal dispute centers on the marketing of the McRib sandwich, a menu item that has been a subject of consumer debate for years.

The lawsuit, first filed in December 2025, alleges that McDonald's engaged in false representations and concealments regarding the sandwich's contents. Plaintiffs argue that the company deliberately crafted the McRib to resemble a rack of pork ribs and marketed it as a premium pork rib product. The core of the complaint is that the sandwich does not contain any pork rib meat, but is instead made from lower-grade pork products.

According to the complaint, consumers were materially misled by the labeling and marketing. The plaintiffs state that they purchased the sandwiches or paid a higher price than they otherwise would have had they known the actual ingredients. The current description on the McDonald's website lists the item as containing a McRib Pork Patty without specifying if it includes rib meat.

McDonald's has contested the validity of the suit. In a statement to Reuters, the company called the lawsuit meritless and asserted that it distorts the facts. Speaking to ABC News, the fast food chain added that it has always been transparent about its ingredients, allowing guests to make informed choices.

The judge's decision keeps the case alive in federal court. McDonald's has until November 20 to submit a formal response to the complaint, after which the litigation process will continue.