Judge won't dismiss McRib class-action lawsuit against McDonald's - USA Today
A federal judge has allowed a class-action lawsuit against McDonald's to proceed, which alleges that the company misleads consumers regarding the ingredients of the McRib sandwich. The plaintiffs argue that the name and marketing imply the presence of rib meat, which the company denies.
Why it matters
This case addresses consumer protection standards and the legal boundaries of food marketing and product naming conventions.
Hear this story A federal judge has rejected McDonald's request to dismiss a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging the fast-food giant has defrauded customers about the meat used in its McRib sandwich .
U.S. District Judge April Perry dismissed some claims but said, in an opinion issued Oct. 30, that it was premature to to accept the company's argument that no reasonable consumer could expect the McRib to contain rib meat.
Four plaintiffs in the case, filed in U.S. District Court in Northern Illinois, argue the McRib’s name, its shape, marketing, limited availability, "and premium price causes reasonable consumers to mistakenly believe the sandwich contains the more expensive rib meat," according to the opinion.
The lawsuit alleges McDonald's uses lower-grade pork products including shoulder, heart, tripe or stomach – and as a result, consumers overpay for the sandwich.
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