A judge in Illinois has ruled in favor of Buffalo Wild Wings, allowing the restaurant chain to continue calling one of its most popular menu items “boneless wings” — despite a lawsuit arguing they should be labeled as “chicken nuggets.”
In March 2023, Illinois resident Aimen Halim filed a lawsuit alleging that Buffalo Wild Wings violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act by marketing the product as “boneless wings.”
Halim argued that the item is made from chicken breast meat rather than actual wing meat and should therefore be classified as chicken nuggets. According to court documents, Halim said he expected “deboned” wings when he visited the restaurant in January 2023 and felt misled by the description.
Judge: Consumers Aren’t Confused
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge John Tharp dismissed the claim, stating that there was no evidence showing customers were actually being deceived.
“Boneless wings are not a niche product for which a consumer would need to do extensive research to figure out the truth,” Tharp wrote.
He added:
“Though he has standing to bring the claim because he plausibly alleged economic injury, he does not plausibly allege that reasonable consumers are fooled by Buffalo Wild Wings’ use of the term ‘boneless wings.’”
In short, the court ruled that most customers understand what “boneless wings” are — and aren’t being tricked into thinking they’re traditional wings.
Deadline Given to Revise Complaint
Despite dismissing the case, Judge Tharp said Halim is allowed to amend his initial complaint by March 20 if he chooses to pursue the matter further.
According to NBC News, the judge left the door open for Halim to revise his arguments, though legal experts say it may be difficult to overcome the ruling.
