Which agency regulates pesticide residues in animal-derived foods?

• A. FDA.
• B. EPA.
• C. USDA.
• D. CDC.

Answer: (B)

Pesticide residues in foods are controlled by setting safe, allowable limits for how much of a pesticide can remain in or on food products. The agency responsible for establishing those limits and regulating the pesticides themselves is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Under FIFRA, EPA reviews pesticide data, approves active ingredients, and sets tolerances for residues in foods, including animal-derived foods like meat, milk, and eggs. This creates a standard that must be met to protect public health. Agencies like FDA and USDA then enforce those tolerances for the foods they oversee, testing products to ensure compliance, but EPA is the one that directly regulates the residue levels themselves.