'6-7' chicken nuggets ruffle feathers. Why Perdue is suing a competitor
Two food service companies are in court over who gets to rule the roost on "6-7" chicken nuggets.
Perdue Foods is suing John Soules Foods after both companies launched frozen chicken nugget products inspired by the popular slang term "6-7." The nuggets are in the shape of 6's and 7's.
In a June 23 filing in U.S. District Court for Eastern Virginia, Perdue alleged Soules Foods' "6-7" chicken nuggets have "highly similar breaded-numeral logo and packaging presentation" to its own product.
"Six-seven" is a slang phrase popularly used by Gen Alpha. According to a definition on Dictionary.com, the saying is "used to indicate swagger or insider status in internet and youth culture."
Perdue is alleging false designation of origin, unfair competition and trademark and trade dress infringement.
USA TODAY has reached out to Perdue and Soules Foods for comment.
Who gets to sell '6-7' chicken nuggets? Perdue sues Soules Foods
Perdue announced the launch of its "6-7" chicken nuggets in April, and they went on sale in Walmart stores nationwide by May 1, according to the filing.
Prior to the nationwide launch, Perdue also filed several trademark applications tied to the product, including for an image used on the product packaging showing the "6" and "7" nuggets each with cartoon hands underneath them, per the filing.
Soules Foods, which also operates under the brand name Soules Kitchen, announced the launch its "6-7" chicken nuggets on June 7, according to a press release. The company said its nuggets would be available to purchase at Kroger and Aldi stores nationwide come July.
Additionally, Soules Foods partnered with Maverick Trevillian, a teen who went viral after doing the gesture at basketball game in 2025 and became known as "the 67 kid."
"Trevillian, the undisputed subject matter expert, has spent months with Soules Kitchen ensuring that these nuggets aren't just shapes, but a superior eating experience," the company's press release said.
In the lawsuit, Perdue alleges that Soules' packaging uses "the same core source-identifying elements" as Perdue's, including breaded chicken nugget numerals 6 and 7 and cartoon hands underneath them.
Aside from the graphics of the nuggets and hand gestures, Soules' packaging also features a cartoon character resembling Trevillian.
Perdue alleges competitors' '6-7' chicken nuggets confuse consumers
According to the lawsuit, Perdue sent a cease-and-desist letter to Soules on June 9, requesting that the company stopped using the packaging featuring the nuggets and hand gesture. On June 17, Soules responded to the letter and said it would not agree to stop using the packaging, Perdue wrote in the filing.
Perdue alleges in the filing that Soules' product has already confused consumers, citing a widespread Instagram post showing Soules' nuggets in which at least one commenter said they saw "6-7" chicken nuggets at Walmart prior to Soules' launch.
Also, Perdue said in the filing that a "major national grocery retailer" refused to carry its "6-7" nuggets because they would be carrying Soules' product.
"Consumer confusion associating Perdue with Soules' 67 Chicken Nuggets product robs Perdue of control over its own reputation and goodwill with consumers," the company alleged.
Contributing: Greta Cross, USA TODAY
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: '6-7' chicken nuggets ruffle feathers. Why Perdue is suing a competitor
Reporting by Melina Khan, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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This story was originally published July 2, 2026 at 9:07 AM.