We’ve probably all thought this at one point in time or another: The products marketed as “boneless chicken wings” really aren’t wings at all.
I’ve heard a few people say they don’t like that term that actually describes a breast meat product, but nobody I’ve met ever had the level of passion about it as Ander Christensen, a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Christensen, recently addressed the Lincoln City Council, of which his father Roy is a member. The younger Christensen asked the council to consider an ordinance or similar action that would eliminate the use of that phrase at restaurants and other places where the term might be thrown around.
Yes, he seriously did this. A YouTube video of this testimony signals that at least one audience member thought it was a joke and started to laugh, at which point Christensen paused and asked for the laughter to stop and that he be treated with respect.
Christensen said, “I propose that we as a city remove the name boneless wings from our menus and from our hearts.”
He made these three points to validate his concerns:
- “Nothing about boneless chicken wings actually comes from the wings of a chicken. We would be disgusted if a butcher was mislabeling their cuts of meat, but then we go around pretending the breast of a chicken is its wing.”
- “Boneless chicken wings are just chicken tenders, which are already boneless. I don’t go to order boneless tacos. I don’t go and order boneless club sandwiches. I don’t ask for boneless auto repair. It’s just what’s expected.”
- “We need to raise our children better. Our children are raised being afraid of having bones attached to their meat. That’s where meat comes from. It grows on bones. We need to tech them that the wing of chicken is from a chicken, and it’s delicious.”
Christensen proposed that the council rename boneless wings in the city of Lincoln. Among his suggestions were “Buffalo-style chicken tenders” and “saucy nugs.”
Should the city do that, Christensen believes Lincoln can be a nationwide leader in setting the record straight about said poultry products.
“We can take these steps and show the country where we stand, and that understand that we’ve been living a lie for far too long, and we know it because we feel it in our bones,” he said.
The video did not reveal any discussion from the council on the matter, other than Roy Christensen pointing out his relationship to the speaker. But do you think some action should be taken?
I would presume that the city council has more pressing issues at hand, but maybe those outside of Lincoln should take Ander Christensen’s concerns under consideration. We do live in an increasingly urban society where people don’t fully understand where their food comes from and how it is processed. Departing from that term, which was likely created by a marketer with some company along the supply chain, might just help in that area.
I don't disagree with Christensen, except for maybe one thing. I would prefer to not have boneless auto repair, because it would be difficult for a mechanic to get very much torque on a wrench without bones.
But in all seriousness, I’m glad this discussion took place and I tip my hat to Christensen for being passionate enough about the subject to bring it to the public’s attention.
