Final answer:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the federal agency with primary responsibility for food safety. The EPA, while not directly responsible for food safety, contributes to ensuring safe food production by regulating water quality and pesticides.
Step-by-step explanation:
The federal agency with food safety responsibilities is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA is responsible for the regulation and supervision of food safety, ensuring that foods are grown, processed, shipped, and stored according to strict safety regulations. These regulations help to maintain the security of the food supply and enable traceability to their points of origin and dates of processing, which is crucial in identifying the sources of foodborne disease outbreaks. In addition to the FDA, local departments of health also play a significant role in preventing foodborne illnesses by enforcing food safety regulations in stores and restaurants.
Among the options provided, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for water quality standards, not directly for food safety. However, the EPA does contribute to food safety through its regulation of pesticides and safe drinking water, which can indirectly affect the safety of food production and supply.