Key facts
- Judge rejected McDonald's bid to dismiss McRib class action lawsuit.
- Plaintiffs allege deceptive marketing regarding McRib's pork content.
- Judge found claims of intent to defraud could proceed.
- McDonald's website describes McRib as containing pork, not specific rib meat.
A federal judge on Friday rejected McDonald's attempt to dismiss a proposed class action lawsuit accusing the company of defrauding consumers about the content of its McRib sandwich. The plaintiffs allege that McDonald's intentionally shaped the McRib patties to resemble rib meat, leading consumers to believe the sandwich contained a more expensive cut of pork. Consumers claim that the use of lower-grade pork products resulted in them overpaying for the sandwich. US District Judge April Perry stated that it was premature to dismiss the case, noting that McDonald's website describes the sandwich as containing pork and that advertising highlighting the meat's rib-like shape could support a claim of intent to defraud.