The U.S. government is now requiring that food labels include information about the safety and health effects of GMOs.
But some critics are raising concerns about how it will affect consumers and consumers’ trust in the food industry.
“This is a huge step backward in transparency and accountability,” said Elizabeth Kolbert, the author of the book Food Fight, which chronicles the fight over GMOs.
“It’s a step back from the public trust that food companies need to be honest and accountable to consumers.”
“I can’t help but wonder if the federal government will have more than one agenda in mind,” she added.
The Food and Drug Administration is working on a plan to standardize labeling of foods containing GMOs.
The FDA said that it has already developed a tool to track the labels on foods and products that contain GMOs.
The agency plans to finalize its plan in December and issue a final rule by January 2019.
The FDA has a mandate to protect the public from the health effects that GMOs may have on their bodies, according to its website.
But critics say it has no mandate to ensure that companies are honest and transparent about GMOs’ safety.