Boneless Wings Are Still Wings, Judge Rules

A federal judge in Illinois ruled on Tuesday that Buffalo Wild Wings’ boneless wings could legitimately be labeled "wings," dismissing a 2023 lawsuit by a Chicago man. In an opinion heavy on chicken puns, Judge John J. Tharp Jr. said the claim "has no meat on its bones" and added, "Despite his best efforts, Halim did not 'drum' up enough factual allegations to state a claim." The complaint said Aimen Halim bought boneless wings at a Mount Prospect, Ill., restaurant in January 2023, believing they were deboned chicken wings.

He alleged the chain instead used breast meat and that he would have paid less or not bought the product had he known. Buffalo Wild Wings argued the menu’s context makes clear the items are not made from wing meat and that "wing" describes a style of preparation.

Judge Tharp agreed that a reasonable consumer would not expect boneless wings to be made from wing meat, noting cauliflower wings are listed alongside wings and that boneless items were priced lower than traditional wings.

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