Why Paul McCartney Is Defending Veggie ‘Burgers’

Paul McCartney says a vegan burger is still a burger, and he’s lending his voice to the fight against a proposed European Union law that would restrict the use of meat-related terms for plant-based foods.

The musician and longtime vegetarian is among the high-profile critics of the measure, which would ban labels such as “burger” or “sausage” for plant-based products. Speaking to the Times of London, McCartney said that clearly marking foods as “plant-based,” “vegetarian,” or “vegan” should be sufficient for consumers to understand what they are buying. He added that such clarity could promote healthier choices and benefit the environment.

McCartney’s advocacy comes with a personal connection: his family owns Linda McCartney Foods, a company that produces vegetarian and vegan sausages, burgers, and pies, according to the Guardian.

Opposition to the proposal has also come from UK lawmakers. Eight British members of Parliament, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, have signed a letter criticizing the bill, which was introduced by French center-right MEP Céline Imart. Supporters of the measure say it would honor farmers and reduce consumer confusion, but the MPs argue it could do the opposite—potentially increasing confusion and harming economic growth, reports Politico. Although the UK is no longer part of the EU, lawmakers say the law could still affect British supermarkets.

The proposal has already passed a vote in the European Parliament and now awaits approval from a majority of EU member states. Critics note that EU polling suggests most consumers can already distinguish between meat and plant-based alternatives. They also point to dictionary definitions, such as those from Collins, which describe a burger as something made from meat or vegetables, and a sausage as an item defined as much by its shape as its contents.

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