Paul McCartney Supports Efforts to Preserve the Names of Vegetarian ‘Burgers’ and ‘Steaks’ in the EU

Sir Paul McCartney performs at The O2 Arena.
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NEED TO KNOW

• Sir Paul McCartney joins MPs in opposing EU plan to reserve meat-related terms for animal products.
• Critics argue that proposed rules would confuse shoppers and impede sustainable food innovation.
• The McCartney family, longstanding advocates for vegetarianism, signed a letter on December 5 urging the EU to reconsider.

Sir Paul McCartney is adding his voice to a significant campaign aimed at persuading European lawmakers to halt proposed regulations that would limit labeling for plant-based foods.

As a committed advocate for vegetarianism, McCartney joins a coalition of Members of Parliament, activists, and food industry stakeholders opposing a proposal that would prohibit terms like “burger” and “sausage” from being used for vegetarian and vegan products.

This movement follows a vote in October by the European Parliament, where Members supported an amendment that would restrict various meat-related terms to animal products. The BBC reported that the vote passed 355–247, applying to descriptors such as “steak,” “egg white,” and “escalope.” Although the amendment has cleared Parliament, it still requires approval from the European Commission and all 27 EU member states before it can become law. A decision from the Commission is anticipated later this week.

Three vegan burgers.

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At 83 years old, McCartney contends that the current terminology is already transparent for consumers, urging that additional restrictions would impede efforts toward sustainable eating. “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 in a press release. “This also encourages attitudes that are essential to our health and that of the planet.”

Proponents of the ban, including agricultural groups, argue that the regulations would protect livestock farmers from misleading marketing. “Let’s call a spade a spade,” remarked Celine Imart, the French MP who spearheaded the initiative, in a statement to AFP. She and other supporters maintain that traditional meat terms should exclusively apply to livestock products.

Opponents—including environmental organizations such as the Vegetarian Society, plant-based food companies, and members of the McCartney family—claim that the restrictions would lead to consumer confusion, create regulatory burdens, and stifle innovation in an evolving market.

In a joint letter published on December 5 and signed by MPs as well as Paul and his daughters Mary and Stella McCartney, the Vegetarian Society emphasized the international implications of EU food policy: “Although the United Kingdom is no longer a member of the European Union, our markets, companies, consumers, and regulatory discussions remain closely intertwined.” The letter cautioned, “Decisions made at the EU level continue to affect global norms, international trade, and the direction of sustainable food innovation.”

PAUL AND LINDA MCCARTNEY LAUNCH THE UK’S FIRST NATIONAL VEGETARIAN DAY.

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A spokesperson from the Vegetarian Society reiterated their commitment to collaborating with “partners, industry, and MPs” to combat the potential ban. “Restricting these familiar terms in the EU could create confusion globally, slow sustainable food markets, and undermine efforts to make plant-based eating accessible and trusted,” the spokesperson stated. “At a time when ethical and sustainable food choices matter more than ever, this is the opposite of what we should be doing.”

The McCartney family has been advocating for vegetarianism for decades, beginning with the late Linda McCartney, who founded the renowned Linda McCartney Foods brand in 1991, featuring products that included “sausages” and “burgers.” In 2009, the family broadened their advocacy with the non-profit campaign, Meat Free Monday, encouraging individuals worldwide to reduce their meat consumption.

In a 2019 interview with the Sunday Times, Paul McCartney reflected on Linda’s unique approach to advocacy before her passing in 1998. “The cool thing about [her] is that she would challenge someone about eating meat, but she had this very charming way of doing it, so it never became an argument,” he noted. “She would say about a lamb or calf, ‘Its mummy loves it.’”