What is the primary function of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)?

The primary function of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to ensure the purity and safety of food and drugs. This means that the agency is responsible for regulating a wide range of products, including food items, dietary supplements, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vaccines, and biologics. The FDA works to protect public health by evaluating the safety and effectiveness of these products before they can be marketed to consumers.

The agency employs rigorous scientific assessment processes to determine whether these products are safe for consumption and free from harmful contaminants. Moreover, the FDA establishes guidelines and regulations to maintain quality control among food and drug manufacturers, ensuring that products meet established safety standards. The importance of this function cannot be overstated, as it helps prevent public health crises related to unsafe food products or ineffective medications.

The other choices focus on areas that fall outside the FDA's regulatory scope; for instance, regulating environmental health and enforcing pollution laws are primarily the responsibilities of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), while managing agricultural exports pertains to trade and agricultural departments rather than the FDA.