Fast food giant McDonald's announced in a newsletter that the McRib will be removed from the permanent menu in Germany and Luxembourg from 27 October this year. The two countries were among the last to sell the cult favourite burger on a regular basis.
The news was met with uproar, causing more consternation than the recent changes to the McChicken or Filet-O-Fish burgers.
The McRib was introduced in the United States in 1981 and soon became a national success. In America, the burger has not been on the menu permanently since 1985 and only returns for limited promotions. However, due to high demand, it has remained a staple in the menu in this country for decades.
Few people know that a Luxembourger played a decisive role in the development of the McRib. René Arend, a Luxembourgish chef who later emigrated to the United States, was the chain's first executive chef. He is known not only for the development of the Chicken McNuggets, but also for the McRib. Inspired by the traditional pulled pork barbecue from South Carolina, he designed a pork patty that looks like ribs, although it has no bones at all.
The McRib was also a response to the enormous success of the Chicken McNuggets. Due to a farming crisis in the United States, there were shortages in chicken production at the time, so McDonald's sought alternatives based on pork.
The McRib won't disappear completely without a replacement. McDonald's is launching the "McRib Sweet Heat", a new variant which combines the famous burger with a sweet-spicy chili sauce. However, this version will also only be available for a limited time.
For many fans, 27 October will be the last opportunity to enjoy the original McRib.
