Much of society is fearful that bioengineering of foods may impact their health. Thus, there has been a surge of support for labeling bioengineered foods; the idea being that GMO labeling allows consumers to make educated choices about the food they eat. The food industry initially pushed back, but with the cropping up of varied state laws on labeling, food producers decided to push for uniformity. They achieve national uniformity through the new law.
The GMO labeling law requires USDA to craft regulations for the labeling of bioengineered products. The label must be text, a symbol, or an electronic link. Food manufacturers will decide what type of label they will use. The law directs USDA not to require the labeling of animal products from animals fed bioengineered substances, and prohibits USDA from requiring companies to determine the amount of bioengineered substances in food. There are also exemptions for small and very small manufacturers.