A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that Buffalo Wild Wings can continue calling its menu items "boneless wings," dismissing a lawsuit that claimed the name was false advertising. U.S. District Judge John Tharp in Illinois issued a 10-page ruling stating that reasonable consumers are not fooled by the term. The lawsuit was filed by a Chicago man, Aimen Halim, who argued the product should be called "chicken poppers" because they are essentially chicken nuggets.
Judge Tharp noted that the argument had "no meat on its bones" and that Halim failed to provide enough factual allegations to state a claim. While the judge acknowledged that boneless wings are made from chicken breast meat, he emphasized that the product concept is not new. Buffalo Wild Wings has sold the item since 2003, and the term has been in common use for over two decades.
The ruling highlighted that "boneless wings" is a common term and not a niche product requiring extensive consumer research. Tharp wrote that a "reasonable consumer" would not believe they were being served "truly deboned chicken wings, reconstituted into some sort of Franken-wing." He compared the term to "chicken fingers," noting that diners know they are not being served actual fingers.
The judge also cited a 2024 Ohio Supreme Court ruling which found that a diner reading "boneless wings" would not believe the restaurant was warranting the absence of bones. Halim had accused the chain of violating the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act, breach of express warranty, and unjust enrichment. He claimed he suffered financial injury because he would have paid less or not purchased the item if he knew its true composition.
Buffalo Wild Wings has faced similar scrutiny in the past but maintains that its branding is a standard industry practice. The court is allowing Halim to submit an amended complaint by March 20, though the judge expressed doubt that any new facts could demonstrate a deceptive act. For now, the sports bar chain is free to keep its menu labels intact as it heads into the busy spring sports season.
The decision comes as a relief to the restaurant industry, which often uses descriptive marketing names for various menu items. Legal experts suggest that the "reasonable consumer" standard continues to protect businesses from litigation over common culinary terms. As fans prepare for upcoming sporting events, they can expect to see "boneless wings" remaining a staple of the Buffalo Wild Wings experience.