A complaint filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in late December accuses the global fast food chain of deliberately misleading customers, The Independent reports.

The rib-shaped patty is made from restructured pork, a combination of shoulder, heart, tripe and stomach, according to the court filing.

The lawsuit seeks compensation for alleged fraud, breach of warranty, contract violations and violations of state consumer protection laws on behalf of US consumers who have purchased a McRib in the past four years.

A spokesperson for McDonald’s said: “This lawsuit distorts the facts and many of the claims are inaccurate.

“Food quality and safety are at the heart of everything we do – that’s why we’re committed to using real, quality ingredients across our entire menu.

“Our fan-favourite McRib sandwich is made with 100 per cent pork sourced from farmers and suppliers across the US.

“We’ve always been transparent about our ingredients so guests can make the right choice for them.”