Which USDA agency is responsible for ensuring the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged?

Which USDA agency is responsible for ensuring the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged?

• A. FDA
• B. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
• C. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
• D. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Answer: (C)

The agency in charge is the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. FSIS is the entity charged with inspecting slaughter and processing plants, enforcing sanitation and processing standards, and ensuring that meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, and accurately labeled and packaged. Its authority comes from laws like the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act, which require ongoing plant inspections, product testing as needed, and compliance with labeling requirements such as ingredient statements and safe handling directions. When safety concerns arise, FSIS has the authority to take recalls and corrective actions to protect the public. For context, FDA handles safety for most other foods and nonfood items, while CDC focuses on disease surveillance and outbreak investigation. The Agricultural Marketing Service deals with marketing, grading, and labeling of certain agricultural products but not the direct inspection and safety oversight for meat, poultry, and egg products.

The agency in charge is the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. FSIS is the entity charged with inspecting slaughter and processing plants, enforcing sanitation and processing standards, and ensuring that meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, and accurately labeled and packaged. Its authority comes from laws like the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act, which require ongoing plant inspections, product testing as needed, and compliance with labeling requirements such as ingredient statements and safe handling directions. When safety concerns arise, FSIS has the authority to take recalls and corrective actions to protect the public.

For context, FDA handles safety for most other foods and nonfood items, while CDC focuses on disease surveillance and outbreak investigation. The Agricultural Marketing Service deals with marketing, grading, and labeling of certain agricultural products but not the direct inspection and safety oversight for meat, poultry, and egg products.