REPORT: McRib mystery deepens as McDonald’s is sued over what’s really inside

January 7, 2026

From Fox Business: McDonald’s is facing a class-action lawsuit that accuses the fast-food giant of deceiving customers about what meat is used in its McRib sandwich.

The lawsuit, filed by four plaintiffs in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois last week, alleges that the McRib “does not contain any actual pork rib meat at all,” despite its advertising.

McDonald’s says the claims are “meritless.”

In the suit, the plaintiffs argued that “despite its name and distinctive shape—its meat patty has been deliberately crafted to resemble a rack of pork ribs.”

Instead of actual pork rib meat, the lawsuit said the meat patties are just ground-up portions of lower-grade pork products such as, interalia, pork shoulder, heart, tripe and scalded stomach.

McDonalds brought the McRib sandwich back to their menu at certain locations in November, and described it as “seasoned boneless pork dipped in a tangy BBQ sauce, topped with slivered onions and tangy pickles, all served on a toasted homestyle bun.”

According to NBC, McDonald’s responded to the lawsuit with the following statement:

“This lawsuit distorts the facts and many of the claims are inaccurate. Food quality and safety are at the heart of everything we do — that’s why we’re committed to using real, quality ingredients across our entire menu. Our fan-favorite McRib sandwich is made with 100% pork sourced from farmers and suppliers across the U.S. We’ve always been transparent about our ingredients so guests can make the right choice for them.”

McDonald’s is responding to claims that its popular McRib sandwich isn’t actually made with real pork rib meat. On Dec. 23, a federal class action lawsuit was filed in Illinois alleging that the McRib “does not contain any actual pork rib meat at all.” https://t.co/cWIl0s6Bid

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 6, 2026