save our sausages

Help us fight this ban

On March 5, 2026 the EU Commission laid out rules restricting the use of animal-related food terms which could have far-reaching consequences for the UK food industry and consumers. The use of meat-based descriptors for vegetarian and plant-based foods will be banned, with the exception of burger, sausage and nugget. Not being able to describe products using terms such as plant-based ‘chicken’ or plant-based ‘steak’ is a blow for the growing plant-based sector who will now have to find new and unfamiliar descriptions for these products.

 The restrictions may directly affect UK products exported to EU markets and could influence future domestic standards, with far reaching consequences, potentially reshaping how other familiar foods, from soups and noodles to ready meals and snacks are labelled.

We urge the UK public and brands to speak up now, demand a reconsideration of these rules, and call on the EU to carry out a full, robust impact assessment to fully understand the consequences for UK businesses, consumers, and trade.

Broad opposition 

High-profile support for opposing the EU rules comes from Sir Paul McCartney and the McCartney family, who added his support to a group of cross-party UK MPs challenging the restrictions, highlighting the potential negative impact on global markets.

The Vegetarian Society is also joined by over 20 businesses, including Linda McCartney Foods, Cauldron, Quorn Foods, and THIS™, as well as civil society organisations, in calling for reconsideration of the rules.

Evidence shows consumers are not confused 

Research consistently shows that EU consumers understand plant-based food labels and are not confused by familiar terms like ‘veggie burger’ or ‘vegetarian sausage’.  A recent YouGov survey shows that over 90% of UK respondents (92%) have never bought, or cannot recall buying, a plant-based sausage or burger thinking it contained meat. 

Take Action

Oppose the EU ban on restricting terms for veggie products.

We call on the EU to:

Maintain protections for widely recognised plant-based terms, including ‘burger’ and ‘sausage’. These terms are already widely understood and are essential for promoting healthy, sustainable, and accessible food choices in the UK. 

Abandon the proposed ban on familiar plant-based food terms. Removing familiar words would confuse consumers and create unnecessary barriers for UK businesses. 

Carry out a full, urgent EU-wide impact assessment. Policymakers must fully understand the consequences for consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and international trade before implementing any restrictions.