McDonald's McRib

The McRib has turned a mediocre pork sandwich into a cultural institution through artificial scarcity since 1981, outperforming the Travis Scott Meal in longevity but not in immediate impact. McDonald's brings it back when pork prices drop, creating an unintentional economics lesson in commodity-driven menu planning. The McRib has its own fan-run locator website (mcriblocator.com), a dedicated subreddit, and generates headlines every time it returns. In 2022, McDonald's announced the "Farewell Tour," implying it was the last time, yet brought it back again in 2023. The McRib is proof that scarcity creates demand, even for restructured pork, with a cult following that rivals any celebrity meal.