Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) Practice Exam

Which agency oversees the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)?

1. Department of Health and Human Services

2. Food and Drug Administration

3. Department of Agriculture

4. Occupational Safety and Health Administration

The correct answer is: Food and Drug Administration

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is primarily overseen by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This act, signed into law in 2011, aims to ensure the U.S. food supply is safe by shifting the focus from responding to food safety problems to preventing them. The FDA plays a critical role in implementing the regulations set forth by FSMA, which includes steps such as requiring food facilities to produce food in a manner that minimizes the risk of contamination. The agency is responsible for enforcing the new safety standards for food facilities, including produce farms, and for ensuring that food importers comply with these regulations. The other agencies listed either do not have direct oversight of the FSMA or focus on different aspects of public health and safety. For example, while the Department of Health and Human Services is involved in public health matters, it is not the agency that implements FSMA regulations. The Department of Agriculture may handle food systems and agriculture but does not oversee food safety regulations in the same way as the FDA. Lastly, Occupational Safety and Health Administration pertains more to worker safety than food safety, thus not directly overseeing the provisions of FSMA.