Ohio Court Rules Boneless Wings Can Contain Bones

The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that 'boneless wings' can legally contain bones, siding with a restaurant and suppliers in a negligence lawsuit brought by Michael Berkheimer, who suffered serious complications after swallowing a bone from a dish he believed to be bone-free. The court's 4-3 decision stated that the term 'boneless wings' refers to a cooking style rather than a guarantee of no bones, asserting that consumers should reasonably expect the presence of bones in chicken products. Dissenting justices criticized the ruling as nonsensical, arguing that consumers do not expect bones in items labeled 'boneless.' Berkheimer's case arose after he experienced severe medical issues, including a torn esophagus, due to the bone, leading him to sue the restaurant, its supplier, and the chicken farm. The majority opinion emphasized that the bone was a natural part of the chicken, thus the restaurant was not liable for his injury. This controversial ruling has sparked widespread debate regarding consumer expectations and food labeling practices.