Chicago, Illinois — An U.S. District Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit from a customer of Buffalo Wild Wings, deeming claims about the restaurant’s “boneless wings” to be without merit. The lawsuit, filed by Aimen Halim in 2023, contended that the term “boneless wings” was misleading since the menu item is made from chicken breast rather than actual deboned wing meat.
Halim ordered the so-called boneless wings at a restaurant in January, believing he was consuming traditional wings.He claimed that had he been aware that the dish contained breast meat, he would have either chosen not to purchase it or would have expected to pay a lower price. Seeking compensation for his grievances, Halim took legal action against the popular eatery.
Judge John Tharp Jr. ruled on Tuesday that the term “boneless wings” is not deceptive. In his written opinion, he emphasized that the phrase represents a “fanciful name” rather than a literal description. Tharp pointed out that language can often carry multiple meanings, citing the term “buffalo wings,” which refers to the style of sauce rather than any association with the animal.
Tharp further articulated that a reasonable consumer would not interpret the designation “boneless wings” to mean that the product contained pieces of deboned chicken wings, describing the concept as impractical. He highlighted that similar terms, such as “cauliflower wings,” similarly do not imply that the dish contains actual wing meat.
The judge also noted that the term “boneless wings” has been in common use for over twenty years, suggesting that consumers are familiar with its conventional meaning. Buffalo Wild Wings echoed this sentiment, asserting that context makes clear that the product cannot possibly consist of wing meat.
The definition of such menu items was fundamental to the case, as Halim’s claims relied on assumptions about the food’s composition. In his ruling, Tharp granted Halim a deadline of March 20 to file an amended complaint should he choose to pursue the matter further.
Neither Buffalo Wild Wings nor Halim’s legal representatives commented immediately following the court’s decision, leaving the potential for further developments open. As the legal landscape around food labeling continues to evolve, this case may serve as an indicator of how consumer expectations and culinary terminology interact.