Dictionary.com announces word of the year
Dictionary.com has revealed that 67 is the word of the year, reflecting the social trends and global events that will define 2025.
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Two food service companies are fighting in court over who will control the “six or seven” chicken nuggets.
Perdue Foods is suing John Soules Foods after the two companies released a frozen chicken nugget product inspired by the popular slang term “6-7.” Nuggets are in the shape of 6 and 7.
In a lawsuit filed June 23 in the U.S. District Court for Eastern Virginia, Perdue alleges that Soul’s Foods’ 6-7 chicken nuggets have “a breaded number logo and packaging strikingly similar” to his own products.
“Six-seven” is a slang term often used by Generation Alpha. According to Dictionary.com’s definition, this proverb is “used to indicate arrogant or insider status on the Internet or in youth culture.”
Purdue claims misrepresentation of origin, unfair competition, and trademark and trade dress infringement.
USA TODAY has reached out to Purdue and Soul’s Foods for comment.
Who can sell “6-7” chicken nuggets? Perdue sues Soul’s Foods
Perdue announced the launch of “6-7” chicken nuggets in April and had them on sale at Walmart stores nationwide by May 1, according to the filing.
Ahead of the national launch, Purdue has also filed several trademark applications related to the product, including an image of a cartoon hand below the “6” and “7” nuggets used on the product’s packaging, according to filings.
Soules Foods, which also operates under the brand name Soules Kitchen, announced the launch of its “6-7” chicken nuggets on June 7, according to a press release. The company announced that the nuggets will be available at Kroger and Aldi stores nationwide in July.
Additionally, Soul’s Foods partnered with Maverick Trevilyan, the teenager who went viral for making this gesture at a basketball game in 2025 and became known as the “67 Kid.”
“Mr. Trevilian, a recognized subject matter expert, spent months working with Soul’s Kitchen to ensure these nuggets are more than just a form, they are an outstanding dining experience,” the company’s press release states.
In the complaint, Perdue alleges that Souls’ packaging uses “the same core provenance elements” as Perdue’s, including the numbers 6 and 7 on breaded chicken nuggets and a cartoon hand underneath.
Besides the nugget graphics and hand gestures, Souls’ packaging also features a cartoon character resembling Trevilian.
Perdue claims competitor’s ‘6-7’ chicken nuggets are confusing consumers
According to the complaint, Purdue sent Soules a cease and desist letter on June 9, asking him to stop using packaging featuring nuggets and hand gestures. On June 17, Soules responded to the letter and said it did not agree to discontinue use of the package, Purdue wrote in its filing.
Perdue argued in the filing that Souls’ products were already confusing consumers, citing a widely shared Instagram post featuring Souls nuggets in which at least one commenter said he saw “six to seven” chicken nuggets at Walmart before Souls’ launch.
Perdue also said in the filing that “a major national grocery retailer” refused to ship “six to seven” nuggets because they carry Soul’s products.
The company argued that “consumer confusion linking Purdue to Souls’ 67 Chicken Nugget products has robbed Purdue of control over its reputation and goodwill with consumers.”
Contributor: Greta Cross, USA TODAY
Melina Khan is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. X Keep up with her at @melinakh and on Instagram @bymelinakhan.
