Final answer:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the federal agency responsible for establishing standards of identity for food products, which includes specifying minimum and maximum ingredient requirements, optional ingredients, and prohibited ingredients.
Step-by-step explanation:
The federal agency responsible for establishing standards of identity that specify minimum and maximum ingredient requirements, optional ingredients, and prohibited ingredients in a food product is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA regulates food safety and ensures that the composition of food products adheres to detailed requirements to protect public health. This includes overseeing food additives, dietary supplements, and the enforcement of rigorous safety standards for permitted food coloring substances. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, along with other related legislation, the FDA has the authority to monitor the quality and labeling of foods sold in the U.S. It maintains a list of over 3000 ingredients used in food production within its database known as "Everything Added to Food in the United States." The enforcement of these standards is done through a system of facility inspections, detailed in FDA Form 483. The FDA's role in food safety is comprehensive, spanning from ingredient approval to product labeling, and their work is often in collaboration with other federal agencies like the Department of Agriculture and state government agencies to ensure regulatory compliance.