“If slaughterhouses had glass walls the whole world would be vegetarian.” - Linda McCartney
In 1975, 40 years before vegetarianism became mainstream, Linda and Paul McCartney chose to become vegetarian. This decision paved the way for a global phenomenon, pioneering the first of its kind vegetarian cookbook, meat free foods company, and several other initiatives which promote an accessible, meat-free lifestyle. However, this journey has not been without backlash and controversy.
The vegetarian food company Linda McCartney Foods was founded in 1991, following the success of Linda’s best-selling meat-free cookbook in 1989. Her aim was to increase the availability of meat-free alternatives, during a time where options were limited. The McCartneys’ celebrity status certainly helped to push the recognition of this movement, helping to accelerate the growth of the plant-based meats market, and championing reasonably priced, easy to prepare and widely available cruelty-free foods.
By 1992, the 12-product range had an annual turnover of £12 million. However, that same year, it was found that more than 700 pies were laced with meat, causing a recall of the product and launching an investigation. The outcome of the investigation still remains unknown. Since then, the company has faced at least three more recalls, for various reasons – including undeclared ingredients, nutritional inaccuracies and use of genetically modified ingredients (which goes against the company’s statement). The company has consistently defended its non-involvement in tampering with the products, upholding its stance in what the McCartney family believes in.
As one of the earliest players in the plant-based meats market, Linda McCartney Foods has also been a part of several sustainability initiatives. It has been a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) since 2011, only using palm oil which abides by its guidelines, and 94% of its current range is vegan friendly. However, its holding company Hain Celestial Group owns other brands which make animal products, which questions the ethicality of the business. There have also been concerns about the lack of transparency regarding production practices, investigation outcomes, and the absences of sustainability reporting. The McCartney family’s heavy involvement in the project reassures consumers that it is dedicated to sharing Linda’s passion for sharing honest, wholesome, meat-free food.
Some have accused Linda McCartney’s movement of blurring the lines between meat-eating and vegetarianism by bolstering the trend of processed substitutes instead of promoting well-cooked vegetarian dishes. With 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions stemming from animal agriculture, plant-based meats certainly help fight climate change. However, are they necessarily better for the environment? Environmental footprints from production chains, non-eco friendly packaging, and long distance transportation, combined with poor nutritional composition, have suggested that reliance on such foods is not a sustainable meat-free alternative. As such, eating seasonal food, purchasing less imports and consuming more local produce may be a better way to narrow the gap of climate change. The company has promoted this practice with its “Grow Your Own” Initiative.
Despite Linda’s passing in 1998, her legacy lives on through her company as well as the McCartney family. Paul, along with their daughters Stella and Mary, launched the ‘Meat Free Monday’ campaign in 2009, encouraging people to ‘save the planet’ at least once a week. Stella’s luxury fashion brand is dedicated to creating cruelty-free and eco-friendly clothing, while Mary shares vegan/vegetarian recipes in cookbooks and social media, hence they’re following in their mum’s footsteps by making a meat-free lifestyle accessible to more people.
Author: Sarah Lim
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