Final answer:
Food safety in restaurants is enforced by state or local regulatory authorities, although the FDA provides overarching standards and regulations for food safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The agency responsible for enforcing food safety in restaurants is the state or local regulatory authority. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a significant role in setting standards for food safety and works closely with local and state agencies, it is the latter which directly oversees and enforces food safety regulations in restaurants. The FDA ensures the regulation of food production and distribution, focusing on preventing foodborne diseases by requiring routine testing for pathogens to protect public health.
However, at the restaurant level, state and local entities apply these standards and regulations to ensure that establishments adhere to the required food safety protocols.