The plaintiffs say the sandwich is made from “reconstituted” pork using lower-grade cuts, including pork shoulder, heart, stomach and giblets.
Four McDonald’s customers have filed a lawsuit against the restaurant franchise, alleging that it misled consumers about the content of its popular McRib sandwich, namely that it contains pork.
By: Peopleit was paperwork has been submitted On Dec. 23 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, plaintiffs Dorien Baker, Peter Le, Charles Lynch and Derrick Wilson, who to reside In California, New York, Illinois and Washington, the plaintiffs allege that the McRib is made from “reconstituted” pork using lower-grade cuts, including pork shoulder, heart, stomach and ham.
The plaintiffs state that McDonald’s use of the McRib name, pricing and rib-shaped patty misleads customers into thinking they are purchasing a premium pork rib product. Because the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Daily Pork Report states that pork ribs, including “baby back” and “spare ribs,” are considered a premium product, the price is usually higher than that of other cuts of pork.
Because McDonald’s charges a premium price for the product (up to $7.89 per sandwich), it allegedly misrepresents it as a “McRib” and uses cheaper cuts than those advertised.
“McDonald’s deceptive omissions and misleading marketing have resulted in millions of dollars in consumer damages, warranting remedies, including compensatory damages, restitution and injunctive relief, to prevent further deceptive advertising practices,” the lawsuit states.
McDonald’s said the plaintiffs’ claims are inaccurate and “misrepresent the facts.”
“Food quality and safety is at the heart of everything we do, which is why we’re committed to using real, quality ingredients throughout our menu,” the fast-food restaurant said in a written statement. “Our fan-favorite McRib sandwich is made with 100% pork sourced from farmers and purveyors across the United States. We have always been transparent about our ingredients so guests can make the right choice for them.”
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