Sir Paul McCartney has launched a furious attack on Brussels over plans that could force his late wife Linda’s iconic vegetarian sausages to be stripped of the word “sausage”. The former Beatle, 83, accused the European Union of overreach as MEPs move to outlaw meat-related terms like “sausage” and “burger” for plant-based products. A final decision on the ban could be reached as early as next week.
Sir Paul, a vegetarian since 1975, said: “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.”
Linda McCartney launched her frozen vegetarian range in 1991. Today, the brand remains one of Britain’s best-selling meat-free labels, marketing items such as “vegan Lincolnshire sausages” and “mozzarella ¼lb burgers.” Under the proposed EU rules, these names could become illegal.
Sir Paul is backed by a cross-party group of British MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn and the Green Party’s Sian Berry, who have written to European commissioners urging them to abandon the plan.
Their letter, seen by The Sunday Times, warns that the restrictions would “increase confusion,” stifle economic growth, and undermine climate targets by discouraging the shift to plant-based diets.
The MPs insist consumers are not misled, citing research that shows widespread public support for terms like “veggie burger.”
The European Parliament voted in favour of the crackdown in October following intense lobbying from the meat industry.
French MEP Celine Imart, who drafted the amendment, argued: “A steak, an escalope, or a sausage are products from our livestock, not laboratory art nor plant products.”
While Britain has left the EU, ministers believe the ban would still apply to UK companies exporting to the single market. Jenny Canham of the Vegetarian Society called the proposal “the opposite of what we should be doing.”
He added: “Terms like ‘burger’ and ‘sausage’ have been used for plant-based foods for decades. These familiar terms let shoppers know exactly what they’re buying and how to cook them. They’re not misleading.”
The McCartney family, including Paul’s daughters Mary and Stella, have now thrown their full weight behind the campaign to save the names that have occupied supermarket shelves for over three decades.