--- title: GMO Labeling Law Passes Congress Despite Concerns description: The House approved legislation Wednesday requiring labels on GMO food over objections from groups that say the rules should be stronger. canonical: https://time.com/4406773/gmo-labeling-congress/ author: Justin Worland article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-07-14T19:30:13.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-22T23:16:12.743Z article:section: Health og:title: GMO Labeling Law Passes Congress Despite Concerns og:description: The House approved legislation Wednesday requiring labels on GMO food over objections from groups that say the rules should be stronger. og:url: https://time.com/4406773/gmo-labeling-congress/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf867b4c7c1736a71/69889c00bc6cfceafe3ddcd5/gmo-labeling-food.jpeg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: gmo labeling food og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: GMO Labeling Law Passes Congress Despite Concerns twitter:description: The House approved legislation Wednesday requiring labels on GMO food over objections from groups that say the rules should be stronger. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf867b4c7c1736a71/69889c00bc6cfceafe3ddcd5/gmo-labeling-food.jpeg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Why Activists Are Unhappy With New GMO Labeling Legislation  by [Justin Worland](https://time.com/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Senior Correspondent Jul 14, 2016 7:30 PM UTC  Labels on bags of snack foods indicate they are non-GMO food products, in Los Angeles, California, Oct. 19, 2012. Labels on bags of snack foods indicate they are non-GMO food products, in Los Angeles, California, Oct. 19, 2012.Robyn Beck—AFP/Getty Images  by [Justin Worland](https://time.com/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Senior Correspondent Jul 14, 2016 7:30 PM UTC The U.S. House of Representatives easily approved [legislation](http://time.com/4390878/why-we-fight-over-gmo-foods/) Wednesday requiring labels on [genetically modified food](http://time.com/3840073/gmo-food-charts/) over objections from [anti-GMO groups](http://time.com/money/4261793/state-gmo-labeling-laws-senate-ruling/) that say the rules should be stronger. The legislation already passed the Senate and the White House [indicated to Bloomberg](http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-07-13/obama-ready-to-sign-food-label-bill-consumer-groups-find-suspect) that President Obama would sign the bill into law, noting that scientists have found genetically modified food to be safe. Despite the controversy over the labeling standard, [study after study](http://time.com/4338702/gmo-human-health-safety-genetically-modified-crops/) has shown that GMOs pose no risk to human health, though they have [other issues](http://time.com/3853556/gmo-controversy-misses-the-point/). The legislation gives food sellers three labeling options to show that a product has been modified—text, a symbol or an electronic link in the form of a QR code. Some consumer protection groups say that symbols and links may confuse some shoppers and complained about provisions in the law that will override stronger state legislation. A patchwork of laws in several states had begun to emerge with different labeling requirements. **Read More:** [These Charts Show Every Genetically Modified Food People Already Eat in the U.S.](http://time.com/3840073/gmo-food-charts/) “It is a non-labeling bill disguised as a labeling bill,” said Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety, “a sham and a legislative embarrassment.” A diverse array of industry groups and companies including Wal-Mart and Monsanto celebrate the legislation. Inconsistent state policies had hampered their business, companies said. The most stringent standard took effect in Vermont earlier this month. Some companies, including [Campbell Soup](http://time.com/4172725/campbell-soup-labels-gmo/) and Kellogg, changed their label to comply. 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