McRib

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Barbecue pork sandwich sold by McDonald's

title: "McRib" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["american-sandwiches", "mcdonald's-foods", "food-and-drink-introduced-in-1981", "products-introduced-in-1981", "mcwords"] description: "Barbecue pork sandwich sold by McDonald's" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McRib" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Barbecue pork sandwich sold by McDonald's ::

| name = McRib | image = McD-McRib.jpg | caption = | serving_size = 1 sandwich, 7.4 oz | kcal = 480 | opt1n = Energy from fat | opt1v = 240 kcal | fat = 22 g (34%) | satfat = 7 g (36%) | transfat = 0 | opt2n = Cholesterol | opt2v = 80 mg (27%) | sodium_mg = 870 | carbs = 45 g (15%) | fiber = 2 g (10%) | sugars = 12 g | protein = 25 g | vitA_ug = 21 | vitC_mg = 1 | calcium_mg = 60
| iron_mg = 4 | opt3n = Ingredients | opt3v = McRib pork patty, homestyle roll, barbecue sauce, pickle slices, slivered onions | source = https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/mcrib.html | note = May vary outside US market. No significant measurable trace. | kJ = 2008.32

The McRib is a minced pork sandwich with barbecue sauce sold by the fast food restaurant chain McDonald's, introduced in 1981. It consists of a restructured boneless pork patty shaped like a miniature rack of ribs, barbecue sauce, onions, and pickles, served as a sandwich on a 5+1/2 in roll.

After poor sales, it was removed from the menu in 1985. It was reintroduced in 1989, staying on the menu until 2005 in many countries. Since 2006, it has generally been made available for a short time each year in most markets where it is sold, typically during the fall season, although it is a permanent menu item at McDonald's restaurants in Germany and Luxembourg.

Product description

The McRib consists of a restructured boneless pork patty shaped like a miniature rack of ribs, barbecue sauce, onions, and pickles, served as a sandwich on a 5+1/2 in roll. Meat restructuring was developed by the US Army to deliver low-cost meat to troops in the field. The process was refined by a Natick Army Labs meat scientist, Dr. Roger Mandigo, leading to the McRib patty. It is primarily composed of ground pork shoulder.

::quote Government doesn't patent their intellectual property, so anyone can use it. They (the Natick Center) presented material at technical meetings...The military allowed us to use the processes they'd developed. − Roger Mandigo, Natick Center contractor and meat scientist ::

::quote In an attempt to give pork "the same stature as beef in the institutional market," the National Pork Producers Council funded Mandigo to show how to apply the new technique. Using his roadmap, McDonald's then developed "a patty of pork made from small flakes of meat taken from the shoulders of a pig" ::

History

1981–2004: Introduction and removal

The McRib was first introduced in 1981 as a limited-time offering, initially tested in the Kansas City area. It was developed by McDonald's first executive chef René Arend, a native of Luxembourg who invented Chicken McNuggets in 1979. "The McNuggets were so well received that every franchise wanted them," said Arend in a 2009 interview. "There wasn't a system to supply enough chicken. We had to come up with something to give the other franchises as a new product. So the McRib came about because of the shortage of chickens." It was his inspiration to shape the McRib patty "like a slab of ribs," despite the fact that a round patty would have been cheaper to manufacture and serve on standard hamburger buns.

The McRib Jr. was introduced briefly in 2003 as a mini version of the McRib, placed inside of a hamburger bun.

2005–present: The “Farewell Tour” years and recurring limited releases

2005–2009

On November 1, 2005, McDonald's issued a press release announcing that the McRib would be permanently removed from the menu following a "McRib Farewell Tour". McRib.com, a website registered to McDonald's, featured a petition to "Save the McRib", which was facetiously sponsored by the "Boneless Pig Farmers Association of America". On October 16, 2006, the "McRib Farewell Tour II" site appeared.

The McRib reappeared in the United States in October 2007, beginning a third "farewell tour". McDonald's sold 30 million made with over 7 million pounds (3 million kg) of pork in 2007. Its fourth reintroduction was in the end of October 2008, across the United States, Hong Kong, and Japan, with a promotional website featuring music sponsored by a "McRib DJ Plowman" in tribute to its creator.

Additional limited time regional offerings, in various regions of the United States as well as in Canada, were made throughout 2008 and 2009.

2010–2019

On November 2, 2010, McDonald's began six weeks of US nationwide McRib availability at the Legends of the McRib event in New York City, honoring three superfans: Joey Erwin, aka Mr. McRib; Alan Klein, founder of the McRib Locator website; and Adam Winer. The promotion ended December 5, 2010. McDonald's credited it with boosting their November 2010 sales by 4.8%. It was the first national offering of the McRib since 1994.

The McRib was offered in Canada from June 21 to August 1, 2011. On October 24, 2011, McDonald's once again made the McRib available for three weeks in a promotion ending November 14.

In celebration of the London Olympics 2012, McDonald's Australia and New Zealand reintroduced the McRib as the Atlanta Pork McRib, as part of an Olympic-themed limited-edition menu campaign.

For 2012, McDonald's announced that the McRib's annual US release would be delayed until December 17, as opposed to its traditional autumn release (which would instead be used to debut the Cheddar Bacon Onion Angus Burger, or "CBO"). The move was an effort to boost sales during the December period in an attempt to match 2011's abnormally high restaurant-wide sales figures.

The McRib was not released nationally and was sold only in a few cities in a few states in the United States (a la the 2005 "McRib Farewell Tour" promotion) in 2013 due to the company introducing several new products (such as the Mighty Wings). The McRib was sold again starting on October 20, 2014, and ending on January 4, 2015, but only in a few cities in a few states in the United States (a la the 2006 "McRib Farewell Tour II" promotion).

In November 2014, McDonald's released a promotional video in its "Our Food. Your Questions." series showing how McRib patties are produced, featuring MythBusters co-host Grant Imahara and teacher Wes Bellamy touring Lopez Foods in Oklahoma City.

The McRib made a return in the United Kingdom on December 31, 2014, until February 3, 2015. The McRib was sold again starting in October 2015 and ending in January 2016, but only in a few cities in a few states in the United States (55 percent of McDonald's locations). It became available again in November 2016, but at a limited number of McDonald's locations; and once more since October 2017, but in most areas. Local McDonald's Twitter accounts announced in Southern California and Hawaii that the McRib would be returning to these locations on November 2 and 9, 2017 respectively. The McRib once again made a limited return in the United States and Australia at participating locations starting in October 2018. The McRibs rolled out once again for a limited time beginning October 7, 2019.

2020–present

For 2020, McDonald's announced that the McRib would be made available nationwide in the United States for the first time since 2012, beginning on December 2. It was dubbed as "the most important sandwich of the year." It also returned for a limited run, along with the "El Maco" burger, in Australia.

On September 30, 2021, McDonald's announced on Twitter that the McRib was returning on November 1 for a limited time. The McRib was available at some locations before November 1.

Since 2022, the McRib returned in the US every year since: on October 23, McDonald's announced that the McRib would return on October 31, 2022, for a "McRib Farewell Tour", the fourth such after the 2005 and the 2007 ones. The McRib was available until November 20. Despite the farewell tour promotion, in September 2023, McDonald's announced that the McRib would return in November 2023.

On January 30, 2024, McDonald's McRib sandwiches returned to Canadian locations for the first time since February 2014.

On October 4, 2024, McDonald's announced that the McRib would be available in the United Kingdom for the first time since 2015, with a limited supply.

On November 11, 2025, McDonald’s announced the regional return of the McRib—alongside the "Holiday Pie"—in the United States, including cities such as Miami, Dallas, Cleveland, Atlanta, Chicago, Knoxville, Seattle, and Los Angeles, for a limited time.

Lawsuits

In November 2011, the Humane Society of the United States filed a complaint with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission against the producer of McRib meat, Smithfield Foods, alleging cruel and unusual treatment of the animals used in the McRib patty production. The complaint cites the use of gestation crates and poor and unsanitary living conditions, as well as a lack of proper animal welfare. In 2012, McDonald's announced plans to end the use of gestation crates for breeding pigs in its American supply chain by 2017. By the end of 2024, McDonalds stated the achievement of phasing out the use of gestation stalls for "confirmed pregnant sows" in their "U.S. pork supply."

In early January 2026, The Food Institute reported that a recent class-action lawsuit filed against McDonald’s has sparked a broader debate about transparency in how the fast-food giant markets its iconic McRib sandwich. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue that McDonald’s naming and presentation of the McRib can mislead consumers into expecting premium rib meat when the product is actually made from restructured pork shoulder and other cuts, potentially deceiving customers and prompting questions about marketing practices and transparency in the quick-service restaurant sector. The Food Institute notes that while the legal impact may be minimal, the case highlights ongoing consumer concerns about how limited-time products are advertised and understood by the public.

Limited availability

Speculation on the limited availability of the McRib includes theories concerning the fluctuating price and unreliable supply chains of bulk pork, manipulation of availability windows to turn the product into a better loss leader for the company, and the generation of renewed enthusiasm and higher sales as a result of scarcity.

An informal study from 2011 entitled "A Conspiracy of Hogs: The McRib as Arbitrage" illustrates a correlation between the price of pork and the timing of McDonald's offering the sandwich; all five of the US McRib offerings between 2005 and 2011 occurred during low points in the price of bulk pork.

According to McDonald's, the sandwich's limited availability is due to their desire to provide a varied menu throughout the year.

::data[format=table]

CountryAvailabilityLast year available
GermanyPermanent menu item
Luxembourg
New ZealandAvailable periodically as a limited-time offertitle=McDonald's confirms McRib returning to New Zealand after self-service kiosk error
CanadaReturned in 2024 after a 10-year hiatus2024
United KingdomAvailable periodically as a limited-time offer2024
United StatesAvailable periodically, typically during the fall seasonlast=Snider
AustraliaAvailable periodically as a limited-time offer2023
Austria2020
Sweden2020
Japan2019
France2013
::

References

References

  1. Moser, Whet. (October 25, 2011). "The Invention of the McRib and Why It Disappears from McDonald's".
  2. Crazo, Adrienne. (November 1, 2011). "The Quick 10: 10 McRib Facts".
  3. (October 3, 2019). "McDonald's McRib is back for a limited time. How to find it". USA TODAY.
  4. (October 8, 2013). "The McRib in Germany".
  5. "McRib product information at mcdonalds.de".
  6. Moser, Whet. (October 25, 2011). "The Invention of the McRib and Why It Disappears from McDonald's".
  7. Marx de Salcedo, Anastacia. (November 24, 2017). "How US Army Technology Gave Rise to the McRib".
  8. Lowe, Peggy. (November 4, 2011). "From Nebraska Lab To McDonald's Tray: The McRib's Strange Journey". NPR.
  9. (February 3, 2009). "The Cult of the McRib".
  10. Valinsky, Jordan. (October 25, 2022). "McDonald's McRib is returning to menus — but it's a farewell tour". [[CNN Business]].
  11. (October 24, 2022). "The Famously Saucy McRib® Returns For A Farewell Tour".
  12. "Boneless Pig Farmers Association of America".
  13. Fox, Justin. (October 25, 2007). "''The McRib is back'' Review".
  14. (November 16, 2009). "McRib is coming back!". Los Angeles Burger Blog.
  15. Selley, Chris. (April 9, 2008). "Unravelling the mystery of the McRib". [[Maclean's]].
  16. (October 11, 2010). "Twitter.com".
  17. "Legends of McRib Launch Event - NYC, November 2, 2010".
  18. (December 8, 2010). "McRib boosts McDonald's November sales".
  19. Cato, Jason. (November 4, 2010). "McRib rollout finds fast foodies feverish for the flavor". [[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]].
  20. (November 6, 2010). "The Return of the McRib". The Wall Street Journal.
  21. Rexrode, Christina. (October 24, 2011). "The McRib makes a McComeback". USA Today, Associated Press.
  22. Staff Reporters. (3 July 2012). "McDonald's and DDB wrap up Olympic-themed campaign with 'Beijing' burger".
  23. Rose, Tom. (11 July 2025). "McDonald's confirms McRib returning to New Zealand after self-service kiosk error". The New Zealand Herald.
  24. (5 August 2013). "Eat, drink and gamble: marketing messages about 'risky' products in an Australian major sporting series". BMC Public Health.
  25. Morrison, Maureen (September 17, 2012). [http://adage.com/article/news/mcrib-save-christmas/237233/ Can the McRib save Christmas?]. ''Advertising Age''. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  26. (November 3, 2014). "Delicious or disgusting? See how McDonald's McRib sandwich is created".
  27. (November 4, 2014). "Watch McDonald’s Prove the McRib Is Made of Actual Food".
  28. (October 31, 2017). "McDonald's is bringing back the McRib".
  29. Taylor, Kate. (October 25, 2018). "McDonald's is bringing back the McRib at thousands of locations".
  30. Tyko, Kelly. "McDonald's McRib is back for a limited time. How to find it".
  31. "The Wait is Over — McDonald's® Takes McRib Season Nationwide in 2020".
  32. Sinclair, Amy. (8 December 2020). "McDonald's to launch Mini Hotcakes with NUTELLA stuffing". 7NEWS.
  33. (September 30, 2021). "The McRib is back. Here's when you can get one".
  34. Tyko, Kelly. "McDonald's McRib returns Monday, but you might be able to get the barbecue sandwich early".
  35. Addy Bink, Michael Bartiromo. (October 23, 2022). "The McRib is back, but possibly for the last time, McDonald's hints".
  36. (October 24, 2022). "The McRib is back (again) for what McDonald's is calling its 'Farewell Tour'".
  37. (September 29, 2023). "McDonald's McRib had a 'Farewell Tour' last year. Is it returning?".
  38. "McDonald's McRib is coming back to Canada after a 10-year hiatus".
  39. "McRib Press Release".
  40. (October 4, 2024). "McDonald's brings back iconic menu item Brits have been craving for a decade".
  41. Lamour, Joseph. (2025-11-11). "It's Officially McRib Season at McDonald's — But Only in Select Cities".
  42. Satran, Joe. (November 4, 2011). "McRib Lawsuit Pits Humane Society Against Smithfield Farms, McDonald's Over Animal Welfare". The Huffington Post.
  43. Spector, Dina. "McDonald's Requires Pork Suppliers To Get Rid Of 2-By-7-Foot Metal Pig Crates".
  44. "Purpose & Impact Report 2024-2025".
  45. Hajjar, George. (2026-01-07). "McRib or McFib? How McDonald's Limited-Time Sandwich Sparked a Lawsuit".
  46. (November 11, 2011). "The McRib's suspiciously 'limited' availability: 4 theories".
  47. Staley, Willy. (November 8, 2011). "A Conspiracy of Hogs: The McRib as Arbitrage". The Awl.
  48. [http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/your_questions/our_food/why-isnt-the-mcrib-sold-year-round.html Why isn't the McRib sold year-round?]. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  49. Rose, Tom. (11 July 2025). "McDonald's confirms McRib returning to New Zealand after self-service kiosk error".
  50. "McDonald's McRib is coming back to Canada after a 10-year hiatus".
  51. Snider, Mike. (2025-11-11). "The McRib is back! But only at select restaurants for now. See where.".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

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