The McRib is back, and still not made with ribs

If distance makes the heart grow fonder, it also makes the stomach grow hungrier, as the Internet feeding frenzy over McDonald’s McRib proves year after year. Luckily, today brings good news to the rib-obsessed: The cult favorite sandwich is now back on McDonald’s menu through November 14.

The McRib was first introduced in 1982, but was pulled a few years later as sales dwindled. However, the sandwich was often brought back on the McDonalds menu as a promotional item in subsequent years. As in any emotionally manipulative relationship, the sandwich’s inconstancy only increased its admirers’ attachment to it, and with the coming of the Internet age McRib fans were able to band together and share tales of its periodic returns. Each time, the McRib becomes the hot topic on social networks — check out today’s #occupymcrib hash tag on Twitter — and there is even a website dedicated to reporting McRib sightings across the country with a locator map.

Since then, McDonalds has made a show of bringing back the sandwich each fall. The fast food giant enjoyed a 4.8 percent sales spike during the McRib’s brief comeback last November, before ripping the sandwich away from its heartbroken admirers once again.

McDonalds said on Monday that the increase in sales “best showcased the passion consumers exhibit for this elusive sandwich.”

Made with pork meat molded into the shape of ribs, the McRib sandwich contains 540 calories, 26 grams of fat and 980 milligrams of sodium. Ironically, the sandwich’s return is only a few months after McDonald’s announced a new healthy happy meal initiative that cut calories in the kids’ meals by 20 percent. Adults, though, they’re free to keep eating as horribly as they like!

So go ahead, get your eager paws on a McRib while you still can. We don’t know about you, but the McRib’s return has us saying, “I’m lovin’ it!”