Paul McCartney and MPs Urge EU to Drop Ban on Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Foods
Paul McCartney, along with eight British MPs, has called on the European Union to reject an October decision by the European Parliament that would ban the use of meat-related terms such as steak, burger, sausage, or escalope for plant-based or vegetarian products. The proposed rules suggest using alternative descriptors like discs or tubes instead.
McCartney argues that labeling products as vegetarian or vegan suffices for consumer understanding and supports health and environmental objectives. The MPs' letter counters that the ban targets a problem that does not exist and could hinder progress toward climate goals.
The European Parliament voted 355 to 247 in favor of banning meat-related names for these products. Notable signatories of the letter include former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and former Green party co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay.
The letter also warns that EU regulations could have repercussions on UK markets and regulatory systems, especially given the close trade relationship post-Brexit.
