WASHINGTON--The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be holding several public meetings about the genetically modified organism (GMO) issue. The meetings will gauge consumers' reactions to genetically engineered (GE) foods.

Worldwide, concerns over GE foods are increasing. In the United States, more than 40 GE foods have already been approved for public consumption, and the FDA is looking to avoid public backlash in this country by educating consumers, according to Joseph Levitt, director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

"We have a detailed review process for new products derived from food biotechnology," Levitt said. "The goal is to determine whether anything in these products differs from their original food counterpart. The goal is to assure the same level of safety as with other food products."

The first meeting will be held Nov. 18 in Chicago. The next two will be held on Nov. 30 in Washington and Dec. 13 in Oakland, Calif.