McDonald’s says a federal class-action lawsuit claiming it misled millions by marketing the McRib as real pork rib “distorts the facts.”

The 45-page complaint, filed on December 23, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by Peter Le, Charles Lynch, Dorien Baker, and Derrick Wilson, takes issue with the product’s name and presentation, notably the term “McRib” and its rib-shaped patty, which they say would lead a reasonable consumer to believe the sandwich includes real rib meat when there is none.

According to the complaint, the McRib is actually made from restructured pork, which combines cuts such as shoulder, heart, tripe, and scalded stomach, none of which qualify as rib meat....... A McDonald’s spokesperson told The Independent that the McRib uses 100 percent boneless pork with BBQ sauce, onions, and pickles, and that no hearts, tripe, or scalded stomach are included.