Chicken council says Super Bowl covered

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- The National Chicken Council in Washington said rumors of a chicken wing shortage ahead of the Super Bowl are unfounded.

Bill Roenigk, chief economist and market analyst for the National Chicken Council, said this week in the 2013 "Wing Report" that Super Bowl watchers shouldn't have too much trouble finding chicken wings to enjoy along with the Feb. 3 showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, Tribune Newspapers reported Friday.

"The good news for consumers is that restaurants plan well in advance to ensure they have plenty of wings for the big game," Roenigk wrote.

However, Roenigk cautioned wing-lovers not to wait until the last minute.

"If you're planning to cook your own wings, I wouldn't advise being in line at the supermarket two hours before kickoff," he wrote.

The report said U.S. consumers are expected to eat 1.23 billion chicken wing "portions" during Super Bowl weekend.

"To put that in perspective," the report said, "if 1.23 billion wing segments were laid end to end, they would stretch from Candlestick Park in San Francisco to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore ... 27 times."