Let it be: Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney battles the EU over plans to ban plant-based
Sir Paul McCartney is locked in a battle with the European Union over its plans to ban the use of the words 'sausage' or 'burger' to describe plant-based products.
The Beatles legend's late wife Linda, who died of breast cancer in 1998, was a vocal vegetarian and launched her own best-selling chain of meat-free alternatives in 1991. However, her business's right to continue describing its products as vegetarian burgers and sausages is now under threat.
The EU could make a decision as early as Wednesday over whether the use of the two words will be outlawed if a food is plant-based.
Mr McCartney, 83, and other members of Linda's family have joined the campaign protesting against the move. He told The Sunday Times: 'To stipulate that burgers and sausages are "plant-based", "vegetarian" or "vegan" should be enough for sensible people to understand what they are eating.
'This also encourages attitudes essential to our health and that of the planet.' A group of cross-party MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn, have also called for the proposed ban to be scrapped in a letter written to the European commissioners.
Linda McCartney launches her range of vegetarian food in 1991. Paul McCartney, 83, and other members of Linda's family have joined the campaign protesting against the move. They have said that it could cause 'confusion' and 'undermine sustainability goals' put in place by the EU. In the letter, they added: 'Research consistently shows that consumers intentionally choose plant-based alternatives and do not confuse them with animal meat.'
Proposed by French lawmaker Céline Imart, the new naming restrictions were slipped in with a broad package of technical rule adjustments to farming contracts. Thanks to overwhelming support from the French livestock and meat industry, the bill was approved with a majority of 355 votes in favour and 247 against in October.
Source: Olivia Christie/dailymail.co.uk
