Paul McCartney and a group of eight British MPs are urging the EU to reconsider its proposed ban on using 'meaty' words on plant-based food labels. They argue that the ban is unnecessary and could have negative consequences for consumers, producers, and the planet. Supporters of the ban claim that using meaty words for plant-based products causes confusion and undermines the meat industry, but McCartney and others believe that clearly labeling plant-based foods is sufficient for consumers to understand what they are purchasing.

The ban, which aims to restrict terms like 'sausage', 'burger', and 'steak' on plant-based food labels, was sponsored by French MEP Céline Imart. However, the legislation is still pending EC approval and discussions have been delayed due to disagreements over expanding the list of protected terms. Proponents of the plant-based industry argue that the ban could increase confusion, hinder innovation, and slow progress on emissions reduction and climate targets.