One of the biggest social concerns surrounding GMOs is that GM crops might be detrimental to human health. Opposers of GMOs say that New Proteins manufactured in GM crops might provoke unwanted allergic responses. Also, they believe that novel combinations of genes might have longer-term health effects of an uncertain nature and severity. Even though nearly every U.S. resident has eaten GM foods at some point in their life, and there has not ever been certain evidence to prove GMOs are unhealthy, there have been lasting concerns that genetically modifying our food will lead to unintended health problems. Another prominent concern revolving around GMOs is about their potential to harm the environment. Insect-resistant crops may adversely affect benign insect species (so-called non-target species). It is thought that genes might spread from the crop plant to wild relatives, to produce herbicide-tolerant weeds, far more difficult to control; or insect-resistant weeds, which might affect a much wider number of non-target species.

Many people, despite a conclusive amount of evidence, feel very strongly that GMOs will certainly harm them and the environment. These people are willing to protest and demand that GM foods be labeled. And on July 29th, 2016, these people got their wish.  On that day, congress passed the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard. The law amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require the Secretary of Agriculture establish a mandatory, national disclosure standard for GMO foods.