Judge allows McRib consumer claim to proceed

A federal judge has allowed a central claim in a proposed consumer lawsuit over McDonald’s McRib sandwich to proceed, ruling that it is premature to dismiss the argument that shoppers could reasonably expect the product to contain rib meat. Judge April Perry also dismissed some claims, but did not determine what the sandwich contains or whether its marketing misled customers. Perry issued the ruling October 30 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, where McDonald’s had sought dismissal. The case was filed December 23, 2025, by four consumers seeking to represent McRib purchasers. No class has been certified, so the lawsuit does not currently proceed on behalf of a broader group. The plaintiffs allege that the McRib contains no rib meat and that its patty uses other pork products, including shoulder, heart, tripe or scalded stomach. They contend that the sandwich’s name and rib-like shape could lead customers to expect rib meat and pay more than they otherwise would. Those claims remain allegations, not findings by the court. McDonald’s disputes the ingredient claims. The company says it does not use hearts, tripe or stomach in the McRib and has...