Could smoky bacon crisps be banned? Minister tells host to 'get a life'

Smoky bacon crisps are the latest unlikely star of the Brexit debate. Reports say the flavour could vanish from UK shelves under Prime Minister Andy Burnham's new deal with the EU. One Cabinet minister was not amused.

What happened? 🥓

The claim is about a food and farming agreement that would see the UK follow EU rules on plant, animal and food trade standards. The aim is to remove post-Brexit checks on exports.

The catch, according to the reports, is a planned EU ban on "meaty" words for vegetarian food. Most smoky bacon crisps are made with flavourings, not real meat. So they could have to drop the reference to bacon from their name.

The other option is to change the recipe so the crisps are no longer vegetarian. But adding beef extract would raise costs and shorten shelf life.

The UK would have to sign up to a list of 31 banned terms for plant-based food. It also includes "steak", "fillet", "ribs", "chicken" and "beef".

Why is everyone talking about it?

Because of the reaction. Asked about the claims on a radio show on Thursday morning, Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle told host Stig Abell: "I think you should get a life."

She compared the row to the old Brexit argument about EU "bendy bananas" (the myth that Brussels banned curved bananas). She said the deal is really about doing business with Britain's closest neighbours. Farmers and food producers, she argued, should be able to export to Europe without "huge uncertainty and the costs and frictions that Brexit brought us".

Critics were quick to respond. Mark Francois, chairman of the European Research Group (a group of Brexiteer Conservative MPs), said voters did not back Brexit "so they could subsequently tell us what to put in a Walkers crisp packet".

PETA's Dawn Carr took a different angle. She said it doesn't matter to animals what vegan foods are called, only that people choose them.

What's next?

The food deal is one of three agreements Mr Burnham is expected to sign at the EU-UK summit on 20 November. The others cover emissions trading and a youth mobility scheme.

It builds on the first reset summit in May 2025, where both sides agreed to negotiate a deal on food and farming standards. Formal talks began in October 2025.

Mr Burnham has also said the Government will "explore options" after the summit for a different long-term relationship with the EU. He insists voters would be "the boss" of any change.

For now, your smoky bacon crisps are still on the shelf.