McDonald’s must face lawsuit over McRib, US judge rules
A federal judge in Chicago has ruled that McDonald's must face a proposed class action lawsuit accusing the fast-food giant of defrauding consumers about the content of its McRib sandwich. The plaintiffs claim that McDonald's intentionally shaped the McRib patties with ridges to make diners believe the sandwich contains rib meat, an expensive cut known for its higher fat content and rich flavor.
In reality, the McRib is made with lower-grade pork products such as shoulder, heart, tripe, or stomach, causing some consumers to overpay for the sandwich. While dismissing some claims, US District Judge April Perry stated that it was premature to accept McDonald's argument that no reasonable consumer could expect the McRib to contain rib meat.
The judge also said ads highlighting the meat's rib-like shape could support a claim of intent to defraud. McDonald's has sold the McRib periodically since 1981, and the company contends that distinctive product names do not fool reasonable consumers.
Brief written by urgent.news from Investing.com's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
