Food Safety Certification Practice Test

Which federal agency is responsible for ensuring the safety of all foods except domestic meat, poultry, and egg products?

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

2. Food and Drug Administration

3. United States Department of Agriculture

4. Environmental Protection Agency

The correct answer is: Food and Drug Administration

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the federal agency responsible for ensuring the safety of all foods except domestic meat, poultry, and egg products. The FDA's oversight encompasses a wide range of food products, including processed foods, seafood, dairy, and dietary supplements. This agency is tasked with regulating food labeling, setting safety standards, and ensuring that food products distributed to consumers are safe for consumption. Understanding the scope of the FDA's responsibility is crucial for food safety as it plays a vital role in preventing foodborne illnesses and protecting public health. The agency conducts inspections, provides public education on food handling and safety, and issues guidelines to manufacturers and food businesses on safe food practices. The other agencies have specific mandates that do not cover the full spectrum of food safety as the FDA does. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention specializes in monitoring and preventing disease outbreaks, but it does not regulate food safety standards. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) focuses primarily on meat, poultry, and egg products, while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is concerned with environmental health and safety regulations, including pesticide use on food.