Music legend Sir Paul McCartney is leading a high-profile campaign against a controversial European Union proposal that would outlaw the use of words like 'sausage' and 'burger' to describe plant-based products.
The Battle for Linda McCartney's Legacy
The issue is deeply personal for the 83-year-old former Beatle. His late wife, Linda McCartney, who died from breast cancer in 1998, was a pioneering vegetarian and launched her own highly successful line of meat-free foods in 1991. The future of that business, which markets products as vegetarian sausages and burgers, is now under direct threat from the proposed EU legislation.
Sir Paul, alongside other members of Linda's family, has joined forces with campaigners to protest the move. He argued in The Sunday Times that clear labelling should be sufficient for consumers. 'To stipulate that burgers and sausages are "plant-based", "vegetarian" or "vegan" should be enough for sensible people to understand what they are eating,' he stated, adding that such products support attitudes vital for planetary and human health.
Political Support and Opposition
A cross-party group of UK MPs, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, has written to European commissioners urging them to scrap the plan. They warn it could create consumer confusion and undermine the EU's own sustainability objectives. Their letter cites research showing consumers knowingly choose plant-based alternatives and are not misled by the current naming conventions.
The proposed restrictions were introduced by French MEP Céline Imart as part of a wider package of technical farming rules. Backed strongly by the French livestock and meat industry, the bill passed in the European Parliament in October with 355 votes in favour and 247 against. Proponents argue it is a victory for clarity, claiming terms like 'steak' or 'sausage' should be reserved for animal products to honour farmers' work and prevent shopper misunderstanding.
Brexit Divergence and the Northern Ireland Issue
While Brexit means Great Britain will escape the EU-wide ban, the rules would still apply in Northern Ireland due to the post-Brexit trading arrangements. This has sparked significant political anger. Ulster Unionist Party MP Robin Swann condemned the 'regulatory absurdity' and said it highlighted the urgent need to scrap the Irish Sea border.
The Northern Ireland Assembly could potentially delay the law's application using the 'Stormont brake', a mechanism designed to block EU rules that significantly impact everyday life there. However, the UK government has previously declined to use this brake in other instances, claiming the threshold was not met.
The final decision from the EU could come as soon as this Wednesday, setting the stage for a significant shift in how plant-based and vegan food products are marketed across much of the continent and in Northern Ireland.
