Salt and sugar have been used for centuries as food preservatives. Salt is used to preserve meat because

Options

A. it betters the taste of the meat and is nutritious
B. it increases the moisture content and thus increases nutrients
C. it promotes multiplication of beneficial bacteria that prevent food spoilage
D. it kills the harmful microbes by drawing moisture to prevent their growth

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Purpose of Preservation**: The primary reason for using salt and sugar as preservatives is to prevent food spoilage. Meat, in particular, spoils quickly due to the growth of microorganisms.

2. **Role of Salt in Preservation**: Salt is effective in preserving meat because it creates an environment that is unfavorable for the growth of harmful microbes.

3. **Hypertonic Solution**: Salt is considered a hypertonic solution. This means that it has a higher concentration of solutes (salt) compared to the inside of microbial cells, which have a lower concentration of solutes.

4. **Dehydration of Microbes**: When meat is salted, the high concentration of salt draws moisture out of the microbial cells through a process called osmosis. As water leaves the microbial cells, they become dehydrated.

5. **Effect on Microbial Growth**: The dehydration of microbes leads to their death or prevents their growth. Without sufficient moisture, harmful microbes cannot thrive, which helps in preserving the meat.

6. **Conclusion**: Therefore, salt is used to preserve meat because it draws moisture from harmful microbes, preventing their growth and ensuring the meat remains safe for consumption.

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