Question

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other one labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A) : The micro-environment of butter is relatively unfavourable for the growth of microorganisms.
Reason (R) : Butter contains high fat and low moisture content.
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below.

• A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).
• C. (A) is true but (R) is false.
• D. (A) is false but (R) is true.

Hint:

The physical structure of butter as a water-in-oil emulsion physically traps bacteria inside tiny, nutrient-limited water droplets, preventing them from multiplying or spreading.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The physical structure and chemical composition of a food product dictate its susceptibility to microbial growth.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze both statements:

• Assertion (A): The micro-environment of butter is relatively unfavourable for the growth of microorganisms: This is True. Butter is highly resistant to bacterial spoilage compared to liquid milk.

• Reason (R): Butter contains high fat and low moisture content: This is True. Butter is composed of at least \(80\%\) fat and a maximum of \(16\%\) water. Crucially, this small amount of water is dispersed as billions of tiny, isolated droplets within a continuous fat phase (water-in-oil emulsion). Since bacteria are trapped within these microscopic droplets, they quickly run out of nutrients and cannot migrate, restricting their growth.
Because this high-fat, low-moisture emulsion structure (R) is the direct physical cause of the unfavorable micro-environment (A), Statement (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Step 3: Final Answer
Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).