Question

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R
Assertion A: Water is the most important source of salmonella
Reason R: Water frequently gets contaminated through faecal matter
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below

• A. Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A
• B. Both A and R are correct but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
• C. A is correct but R is not correct
• D. A is not correct but R is correct

Hint:

Poultry, eggs, and raw meats are the primary sources of foodborne Salmonella outbreaks, whereas water serves as a secondary vehicle for contamination.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Evaluating transmission pathways of foodborne pathogens requires identifying their primary reservoirs versus secondary environmental vectors.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The primary and most significant reservoirs for non-typhoidal Salmonella are food products of animal origin.
These include poultry meat, eggs, pork, and raw dairy products, which are the main sources of human salmonellosis.
Water is not the primary source of these infections, making Assertion A incorrect.
However, water can become contaminated with Salmonella through fecal contamination from agricultural runoff, wild animal waste, or sewage discharge.
This makes water a potential vector for transmission, validating Reason R as a correct statement.
Therefore, Assertion A is incorrect, but Reason R is correct.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct combination is: A is not correct but R is correct.