Which organization is responsible for the regulation of food and drugs in the United States?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the organization responsible for the regulation of food and drugs in the United States. The FDA's primary role involves ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and food supplies. It regulates a wide range of products, including medicines, vaccines, and dietary supplements, and it also oversees the labeling and manufacturing practices for food to ensure that consumers receive safe and effective products.

This regulatory authority is critical for public health, as the FDA provides necessary oversight to prevent unsafe or ineffective products from reaching the market. The agency is empowered to take action against companies that fail to meet its safety standards, thus protecting consumers.

Other organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), play vital roles in public health, research, and environmental protection; however, their functions do not focus specifically on regulating food and drugs. The CDC primarily focuses on disease control and prevention, the NIH engages in biomedical research, and the EPA deals with environmental protection. Therefore, the FDA is distinct in its dedicated responsibility for food and drug regulation in the United States.