- McRib
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McDonald's McRib 
The McRib Nutritional value per serving Serving size 1 sandwich, 7.4 oz (209 g) Energy 500 kcal (2,100 kJ) Carbohydrates 44 g (15%) - Sugars 11 g - Dietary fiber 3 g (10%) Fat 26 g (40%) - saturated 10 g (48%) - trans 0† Protein 22 g Vitamin A equiv. 20 μg (3%) Vitamin C 1 mg (1%) Calcium 150 mg (15%) Iron 2.5 mg (19%) Sodium 980 mg (65%) Energy from fat 240 kcal (1,000 kJ) Cholesterol 70 mg (23%) Ingredients Pork patty, bun, sauce, pickle slices, slivered onions May vary outside U.S. market.
^† No significant measurable trace.
Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults.
Source: mcdonalds.comThe McRib is a barbecue pork sandwich periodically sold by the international fast-food restaurant chain McDonald's. It was first introduced to the McDonald's menu in 1981.
After poor sales it was removed from the menu in 1985. It was reintroduced in 1989, staying on the menu until 2005. From 2006 onward, it was made available for a short time each year.
Contents
Product description
McRib consists of a pork patty, barbecue sauce, onions, and pickles served on a 5½ inch (14 cm) roll. Despite its name, it is primarily composed of pork shoulder meat, according to McDonalds.[1] According to Chicago Magazine, the patty is also composed of restructured meat products such as tripe, heart, and stomach and blended with salt and water to extract salt-soluble proteins, which act as a "glue" that helps bind the reshaped meat together.[2] The McRib has 70 ingredients. Thirty-four of those ingredients are contained in the bun, including azodicarbonamide—a flour bleaching agent that is also used in the manufacturing of foamed plastics such as gym mats and the soles of shoes.[3][4]
The McRib Jr. was available briefly in 2000. This version replaced the roll with a standard hamburger bun, and was served with two pickles and a smaller pork patty.
Origin
The McRib made its debut in the US in 1981 as a limited-time item; then, as now, it returns to the menu for promotional periods. It was developed by McDonald's first Executive Chef Rene Arend, who had fathered Chicken McNuggets in 1979.[1]
“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.[1]
Despite the McRib's notoriety in modern fast food culture, it wasn't immediately successful. It test-marketed very well in the Midwest, and was added to the restaurant's permanent menu for the United States in 1981. Sales were mediocre,[citation needed] however, and it was removed in 1985 as McDonald's executives determined that pork is not eaten frequently enough in the U.S. to stay on the menu. After several years, it returned for a promotion. It is more popular in Germany, where it remains a permanent item.[5][6] The McRib was also brought back occasionally in 1989, 1990 (together with the "BBQ in a Bag" promotion), 1991, 1992 (with the Western Omelette McMuffin as part of a Western promotion), and 1993.[citation needed]
In summer 1994, McDonald's brought back the McRib nationally, as a tie-in with the theatrical release of The Flintstones, comparing the appearance of it with the rack of ribs that topples the Flintmobile in both the animated and live action productions. McDonald's (which was featured in the film as "RocDonald's") supported the return with McRib packaging featuring the Flintstones characters and a television commercial featuring Rosie O'Donnell in her role as Betty Rubble.
Recent history
On November 1, 2005, McDonald's issued a press release: 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".[7] On October 16, 2006, the "McRib Farewell Tour II" site appeared, confirming the first campaign to be a marketing ploy in the spirit of successive "farewell tours" launched by aging rock music stars.
The McRib reappeared in the U.S. in October 2007, beginning a third "farewell tour".[8] McDonald's sold 30 million made with over 7 million pounds of pork in 2007.[1]
Its fourth reintroduction was in late October 2008, across the U.S., Hong Kong, and Japan, with a promotional website featuring music sponsored by a "McRib DJ Plowman" in tribute to its creator.[9]
Additional limited-time regional offerings, in various regions of the U.S. as well as in Canada, were made throughout 2008 and 2009.[10][11][12]
On November 2, 2010, McDonald's began six weeks of 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.[13] The promotion ended December 5, 2010.[14] McDonalds credited it with boosting their November 2010 sales by 4.8%.[15] It was the first national offering of the McRib since 1994.[16]
The McRib was offered in Canada from June 21 to August 1, 2011.[14]On October 24, 2011, McDonald's once again made the McRib available for three weeks in a promotion ending November 14.[17]
Limited availability
Aside from weak sales, other theories for the limited availability of the McRib include the higher prices and unreliable supply of pork, the limited-time allure making it a better loss leader for McDonald's, and the scarcity adding to the hype of the sandwich.[18]
Controversy
In November 2011, the Humane Society of the United States filed a complaint with the US 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.[19] The complaint cites the use of gestation crates and poor and unsanitary living conditions, as well as a lack of proper animal welfare.
In popular culture
- In Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, a character cites the McRib as an example of "African-American Irish culture".[20]
- One urban legend claims that the sandwich is made out of kangaroo meat.[21]
- The McRib is mentioned in the episode "Last Cigarette Ever" of How I Met Your Mother.
- The "Ribwich", a McRib parody, is a limited-time menu item sold at Krusty Burger in The Simpsons episode "I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can".[1]
- McRib has periodically appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman Top Ten list. (e.g. "Top 10 Surprises in Clinton’s State of the Union Address: #2. If reelected, would bring back the McRib Sandwich.")[1]
- In The Big Bang Theory episode "The Thespian Catalyst", Penny claims that Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is an American classic. Dr. Sheldon Cooper retorts "So is the McRib Sandwich; I don't care for that either."
- The Chappelle's Show sketch "Calvin Gets a Job at WacArnold's" (a parody of McDonald's) references the McRib. Upon realizing that his girlfriend has been cheating on him, Calvin, a WacArnold's employee, yells out "And guess what, the rib sandwich is coming back on Tuesday! Guess who ain't getting one!?"[22]
- In The King of Queens episode "Knee Jerk" Arthur shows a picture of Doug leaping into the air, after hearing about the return of the McRib.
- In an episode of Roseanne, Roseanne mentions how excited Dan gets "whenever the McRib comes back."
- In an episode of Full House, Becky says, "Joey, I haven't been this excited since they brought back the McRib."
See also
- List of sandwiches
References
- ^ a b c d e f "The Cult of the McRib". MAXIM. 3 February 2009. http://www.maxim.com/amg/humor/articles/70280/thecultofthemcrib.html. Retrieved 25 October 2011. "'The pork meat is chopped up, then seasoned, then formed into that shape that looks like a rib back. Then we flash-freeze it. The whole process from fresh pork to frozen McRib takes about 45 minutes.'--Rob Cannell, director of McDonald’s U.S. supply chain"
- ^ Moser, Whet (October 25, 2011). "The Invention of the McRib and Why It Disappears from McDonald's". Chicago (magazine). http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/October-2011/The-Invention-of-the-McRib-and-Why-It-Disappears-from-McDonalds/.
- ^ Melnick, Meredith (October 27, 2011). "Why Lovin' the McRib Isn't Heart Smart". TIME. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/639RtXiLR.
- ^ Hsu, Tiffany (November 4, 2011). "McRib pork provider Smithfield accused of abusing pigs". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/639SCXOXc.
- ^ Feder, Barnaby J. (December 9, 1992). "A McDonald's Burger of the Garden Variety". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 15, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/63E6AFigr.
- ^ "McRib product information at mcdonalds.de". http://www.mcdonalds.de/produkte/produktfinder.html#/mcrib. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ^ "Boneless Pig Farmers Association of America". Archived from the original on 2005-12-31. http://web.archive.org/web/20051230172317/http://www.bonelesspigs.org/.
- ^ Justin Fox (2007-10-25). "The McRib is back Review". Time Magazine. http://time-blog.com/curious_capitalist/2007/10/the_mcrib_is_back_bringing_con.html. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ^ "McRib Tribute Site". http://www.mcrib.com/. Retrieved 24 October 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "McRib is coming back!". Los Angeles Burger Blog. http://laburgerblog.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/mcrib-is-coming-back/. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ^ Chris Selley (2008-04-09). "Unravelling the mystery of the McRib". Maclean's. http://www.macleans.ca/business/companies/article.jsp?content=20080409_104093_104093. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ "Twitter.com". 2010-10-11. http://twitter.com/McDonalds/status/27043971484. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
- ^ "Legends of McRib Launch Event - NYC, November 2, 2010". http://mcdonalds.posterous.com/legends-of-mcrib-launch-event-nyc-november-2. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ^ a b "The Return of the McRib". The Wall Street Journal. 2010-11-06. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704462704575590623011123594.html.
- ^ "McRib boosts McDonald's November sales". http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40566036/ns/business-us_business/. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ^ Cato, Jason (November 4, 2010). "McRib rollout finds fast foodies feverish for the flavor". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_707667.html. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
- ^ Rexrode, Christina (24 October 2011). "The McRib makes a McComeback". USA Today, Associated Press. http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/story/2011-10-24/mcdonalds-mcrib-sandwich/50888872/1. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ^ "The McRib's suspiciously 'limited' availability: 4 theories". The Week. November 11, 2011. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/639VsirNy.
- ^ "McRib Lawsuit Pits Humane Society Against Smithfield Farms, McDonald's Over Animal Welfare". The Huffington Post. 2011-11-04. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/04/mcrib-lawsuit-humane-society-smithfield-farms_n_1075992.html.
- ^ Jargon, Julie (2010-10-11). "Bona Fide Fans Chase Rib-Free Rib Sandwich". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704696304575538373863627604.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_6.
- ^ "From the Green Room: The Return of the McRib". http://www.imus.com/rob-bartlett/2010/10/18/from-the-green-room-the-return-of-the-mcrib.html. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ^ "Chapppelle's Show Episode #202". http://www.tv.com/shows/chappelles-show/ep-202-306019/. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
External links
- McRib menu item at McDonald's
- McRib product with zoom feature at McDonald's Germany
- McRib US Locator by Alan Klein
McDonald's People Richard and Maurice McDonald · Ray Kroc · Joan Kroc · Ralph Alvarez · Charlie Bell · Jim Cantalupo · George Cohon · Don Gorske · Jack M. Greenberg · Jim Skinner · Donald N. Smith · Fred L. Turner · Michael R. Quinlan · Al Bernardin · Herb Peterson · Willard ScottCompany Products BeefChickenOtherAdvertising CampaignsSponsorshipsRelated subjectsBurger Wars · Fast food advertisingOtherFranchises Criticism Legal cases Other Annual revenue
US$24.075 billion (2010) · Employees 400,000 (2010) · Stock symbol NYSE: MCD · Website mcdonalds.comCategories:- American sandwiches
- McDonald's foods
- 1981 introductions
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