McDonald’s Faces Class Action Suit Regarding Ingredients in McRib

The Golden Arches is allegedly selling “restructured” mystery meat rather than actual pork ribs, according to fans.

McDonald’s is under scrutiny right now because its most well-known menu item is the subject of a federal class action lawsuit.

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois received a 45-page complaint on December 23, 2025, from a group of four plaintiffs: Peter Le, Charles Lynch, Dorien Baker, and Derrick Wilson. By offering a “McRib” that doesn’t actually contain a single shred of real rib meat, the fast food chain is allegedly catfishing its customers, according to the lawsuit.

The “restructured” form of the famous patty is at the heart of the legal dispute. The lawsuit argues that the sandwich’s recognizable bone-like ridges and rack-of-ribs shape are merely a clever optical gimmick.

The plaintiffs contend that rather than the premium rib cuts that consumers anticipate, the meat is actually a combination of inferior hog parts, such as shoulder, heart, tripe, and scalded stomach.

16 counts of legal drama are included in the lawsuit, including claims of fraud, warranty breach, and infractions of consumer protection legislation. The plaintiffs contend that McDonald’s distracts customers from paying close attention to what they’re actually eating by using the “limited time only” hoopla. Additionally, they noted that although though the McRib is supposedly constructed of less expensive “byproducts,” it sometimes has a higher price tag—sometimes even more than a Big Mac.

McDonald’s is already resisting the myth of “mystery meat.” The Independent was informed by a brand representative that the accusations about organ meats are wholly untrue.

“Many of the assertions in this complaint are false, and the facts are distorted. The representative stated, “We are dedicated to using real, quality ingredients across our entire menu because food quality and safety are at the heart of everything we do.” All of the pork used to make our beloved McRib sandwich comes from American farmers and suppliers. We’ve always been open and honest about our ingredients so that visitors may choose what’s best for them.

The massive burger chain insists that the sandwich is made entirely of boneless pork and combines it with pickles, onions, and barbecue sauce.

In spite of that position, throughout the past four years, the plaintiffs have been pursuing class certification on behalf of millions of McRib buyers, focusing on states like California, New York, and Illinois.