Judge says lawsuit over Buffalo Wild Wings boneless wings has “no meat on its bones”

An Illinois judge recently made a ruling in a lawsuit involving a Buffalo Wild Wings customer and the restaurant chain’s boneless chicken. The customer, Aimen Halim, filed a lawsuit in 2023 claiming that Buffalo Wild Wings’ use of the term “boneless wings” was deceptive because the menu item actually contained chicken breast meat. Halim alleged that he had ordered the “boneless wings” at a location in Illinois, expecting to receive wings that were deboned. He stated that had he known he was eating breast meat, he would have either refused to buy the product or paid less for it, seeking monetary damages as a result.

However, Judge John Tharp Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois dismissed Halim’s claims, stating that the term “boneless wings” was not deceptive but rather a fanciful name. Tharp emphasized that words can have multiple meanings, using the example of “buffalo wing” to illustrate his point. He explained that the term “buffalo wing” refers to the type of sauce on the wing, not the type of meat used. Tharp also compared the boneless wings to cauliflower wings, another item on Buffalo Wild Wings’ menu, stating that a reasonable consumer would not believe the dish was made from wing meat.

Tharp further noted that the term “boneless wings” has been in use for over two decades and is familiar to customers. Buffalo Wild Wings also supported this argument, stating that a reasonable consumer would not be misled by the term and that context clues make it clear that the product is not made of wing meat. In response to the judge’s decision, Buffalo Wild Wings announced a “buy one, get one” boneless wing deal to celebrate the ruling, affirming that the product will continue to be called boneless wings.

The plaintiff’s lawyers and Buffalo Wild Wings did not provide comments on the ruling. Tharp gave Halim until March 20 to file an amended complaint if he chooses to do so. The case highlights the importance of clear labeling and the interpretation of terms in the food industry, as well as the significance of context in understanding product descriptions.

This article was edited by Aimee Picchi and originally appeared on a WordPress platform. For more in-depth coverage, readers can explore additional content on The Free Press website.