What is the primary responsibility of the FDA?

The primary responsibility of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) encompasses a broad range of duties, among which regulating and supervising food safety, tobacco products, and dietary supplements is fundamental. This involves ensuring that the food supply is safe, sanitary, and labelled properly, as well as overseeing the manufacturing practices and marketing of dietary supplements and tobacco products to protect public health.

While the FDA also plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, this responsibility is a subset of its larger mission related to public health involving a variety of products, including food and drug items. Other options refer to entities or organizations outside the scope of the FDA's mission; for example, investigating civil transportation accidents is typically within the purview of agencies focused on transportation safety, while creating laws for workplace safety falls under organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Hence, the comprehensive scope of the FDA’s regulatory functions specifically identifies option B as the most accurate representation of its primary responsibilities.