6 Things You Should Know About the McDonald’s McRib

*All information taken from “11 Amazing Facts About the McDonald’s McRib by Dina Spector and Kim Bhasin.

1.  The McRib came about because of a shortage of chickens due to the popularity of the chicken McNugget.

2. The McRib is based off of southern barbecue, which is why it’s shaped like a slab of ribs, yet is boneless.

3. The McRib is a product of “restructured meat technology.  “Restructured meat product’ contains a mixture of tripe, heart, and scalded stomach, which is then mixed with salt and water to extract proteins from the muscle. The proteins bind all the pork trimmings together so that it can be re-molded into any specific shape — in this case, a fake slab of ribs.”

4. The McRib contains over 70 ingredients.  “This includes azodicarbonamide, a flour-bleaching agent often used in the production of foamed plastics.”

5. McDonald’s keeps the McRib scarce because the sandwich’s brand relies on it, even though individual restaurants can actually order the ingredients for it at any time. “The McRib has become something of a legend for its on-and-off appearances on McDonald’s menus. The fleeting nature of the sandwich has generated a cult-like following.”

6. Last November, the Humane Society of the United States filed a lawsuit against Smithfield Foods, the pork supplier of McDonald’s McRib meat, claiming the meat distributor houses its pigs in unethical farm conditions.

That is really sad, because remember how this pig saved a baby goat from drowning?!

 So cute!  That little pig is a hero!

**All information taken from “11 Amazing Facts About the McDonald’s McRib by Dina Spector and Kim Bhasin.  Read full article here.