LINDA GRAY, STERLING, VIRGINIA: My name is Linda Gray and I'm from Sterling, Virginia. And I want to ask CNN what are genetically- engineered foods and why are some people afraid of them?</s>ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Just the words "genetically-modified foods" are very scary to some people. Often they don't realize there's a an excellent chance they're already eating genetically-modified foods and just don't know it. Genetic modification means scientist have gone in and changed the plant's genes to make it more useful in some way, such as more resistant to insects or more resistant to agriculture diseases. The government regulates these foods, and over 40 genetically- modified plant varieties have completed all the federal requirements to go to market -- everything from tomatoes to cantaloupes to corn. But people often aren't aware of this because genetically-modified foods don't have to be labeled. That's because the government says these foods are just as safe to eat as regular foods.
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