Paul McCartney, the legendary former Beatle and one of the world's most prominent vegetarians, has voiced strong opposition to a European Parliament decision that could prohibit plant-based foods from using meat-associated terms like "burger" and "sausage."
Although the UK has left the EU, single-market regulations continue to influence British businesses and consumers. McCartney has joined eight cross-party British MPs in urging the European Commission to reject the proposed restrictions.
In October 2025, the European Parliament voted 355 to 247 in favor of reserving terms such as "burger," "sausage," "steak," and "escalope" exclusively for animal-derived products. Proponents, including French MEP Céline Imart of the centre-right European People's Party, argue that these names should reflect products from livestock farming only, stating: "A steak, a cutlet, or a sausage are products from our livestock farms. Period. No laboratory substitutes allowed, no plant-based products allowed."
Critics contend the move addresses a nonexistent issue of consumer confusion and hinders efforts to promote healthier, more sustainable diets. Alternatives suggested in debates include less appealing terms, such as "discs" for burgers or "tubes" for sausages.
McCartney, a lifelong vegetarian and co-founder of the Linda McCartney Foods brand—which he launched with his late wife in 1991—emphasized in a statement: "Specifying burgers and sausages as 'plant-based,' 'vegetarian,' or 'vegan' should be enough for sensible people to understand what they are eating. This also encourages behaviors that are essential for our health and the planet."
Alongside his daughters Mary and Stella, who co-lead the global Meat Free Monday campaign, McCartney supports a letter from UK MPs warning that the restrictions could undermine climate goals, economic growth, and consumer choice.
The proposal now heads to negotiations between the Parliament, EU governments, and the Commission, with a final decision expected soon.
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