Paul McCartney rages over EU plan to ban Linda’s famous ‘sausage’ | UK | News
Sir Paul McCartney has launched a furious attack on Brussels over plans that could see his late wife Linda’s iconic vegetarian sausages dropped from the word “sausage”. The former Beatle, 83, accused the European Union of moving MEPs to outlaw meat-related terms such as “sausage” and “burger” for plant-based products. A final decision on the ban could be reached as early as next week.
Sir Paul, who has been a vegetarian since 1975, said: “Requiring that burgers and sausages are ‘plant-based’, ‘vegetarian’ or ‘vegan’ should be enough for sensible people to understand what they are eating. It also encourages attitudes that are essential for our health and the health of the planet.”
Linda McCartney launched her frozen vegetarian range in 1991. Today the brand remains one of the UK’s best-selling meat-free labels, marketing products such as “vegan Lincolnshire sausages” and “mozzarella burgers”. These names could become illegal under proposed EU rules.
Sir Paul is backed by a group of British MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn and the Green Party’s Sian Berry, who have called on European commissioners to abandon the plan.
The letter he saw Sunday TimesIt warns that restrictions would “increase confusion”, stifle economic growth and undermine climate targets by discouraging the switch to plant-based diets.
MPs insist consumers should not be misled, citing research showing widespread public support for terms such as “veggie burger”.
The European Parliament voted in favor of the restriction in October, following intense lobbying by the meat industry.
French MP Celine Imart, who drafted the amendment, argued: “Steak, schnitzel or sausage are products derived from our animals, not laboratory art or plant products.”
As Britain leaves the EU, ministers believe the ban will still apply to British companies exporting to the single market. Jenny Canham of the Vegetarian Society described the proposal as “the exact opposite of what we should be doing”.
He added: “Terms like ‘burger’ and ‘bratwurst’ for plant-based foods have been used for decades. These familiar terms let shoppers know exactly what they’re buying and how to cook it. They’re not misleading.”
The McCartney family, including Paul’s daughters Mary and Stella, have thrown their full weight into the campaign to save the names that have occupied supermarket shelves for more than thirty years.
