Growing up in the 1980's, I can remember all the McDonaldland characters, when Chicken McNuggets came out, and the introduction of the McRib.

But unlike McNuggets though, the McRib comes and goes like magic.

So this afternoon, I was talking with Tracy over at our sister station, Kiss Country 93.7... And she's never had a McRib!

Let me repeat that; she's been McRib-less all her life!

So when she asked me what made it so great, the only thing that came to mind was that it was full of pork goodness.

That's when I decided to search the interwebs for more information on one of my favorite sandwiches.

What I found was not what I expected.

Hmm, with a name like McRib, I assumed that ribs may be part of the equation. Boy was I wrong!

According to an article in Chicago Magazine, a professor at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Roger Mandigo, helped create the pork-like patty.

Mandigo calls his creation a "restructured meat product" and a "meat log!"

So then, what exactly is the McRib? Let's allow Mandigo to explain:

"Restructured meat products are commonly manufactured by using lower-valued meat trimmings reduced in size by comminution (flaking, chunking, grinding, chopping or slicing). The comminuted meat mixture is mixed with salt and water to extract salt-soluble proteins. These extracted proteins are critical to produce a “glue” which binds muscle pieces together. These muscle pieces may then be reformed to produce a “meat log” of specific form or shape"

Ok, so far we have pieces of pig, salt, and water.

Professor, please continue!

"Most people would be extremely unhappy if they were served heart or tongue on a plate. But flaked into a restructured product it loses its identity. Such products as tripe, heart, and scalded stomachs are high in protein, completely edible, wholesome, and nutritious, and most are already used in sausage without objection. Pork patties could be shaped into any form and marketed in restaurants or for airlines..."

See, porky goodness!

According to the McDonald's web page, there are 70 ingredients that make up the sandwhich. 34 of them make up the bun alone!

After reading all of this, Tracy has now sworn that she'll never eat a McRib.

Me? I say that just leaves more for the rest of us!

I just hope they don't go extinct like the Ribwich!

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