National regulations that limit the sale of meat to within 5 days of

redskull1

I think meat display cases are the refrigerators where meats are kept for display. So If the temperature is not optimum in htose cases, there are chances that meats might get spoiled.
Hence I think C is the answer
Please advise.

Regards,
Arup

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

C

This argument proposes that the regulations should be changed because meat held at 40° F will last longer than the currently allowed 5 days, and longer storage will result in lower prices for consumers. But this is only true if conditions are optimal; in other words, the assumption is that meat is in fact held at 40° F. (C) contradicts this assumption; if meat is normally displayed at higher temperatures, the proposal to extend the shelf life without reducing food safety will not work. Therefore, (C) is correct.

(A) is out of scope; the period in question is before sale, not after sale. Furthermore, suppose the regulations were extended to 9 days; even if consumers then kept the meat for another 7 days, that would still not exceed the 16 days that meat kept at 40° F will last (B) isn't relevant. (D) ignores the issue of whether meat is actually kept at 40° F and, if anything, would strengthen the argument; if some meat stored up to 25 days is safe to consume, that might argue in favor of changing the 5-day limit. (E) doesn't address the temperature issue and in fact, could strengthen the argument by providing a reason to believe that longer shelf life will result in lower prices.

The conclusion: change the national regulation of packaged meat.
The claim used to support the conclusion: If Under optimal conditions, meat kept at 40° F will not spoil for 16 days.

The passage assumes that the 40° F temperature is typical throughout the nation. what if this were not the case? if the temperature conditions vary greatly (go above 40° F), then the conclusion will be rendered invalid.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the conclusion drawn above?

A. Most consumers keep meat for up to a week before eating it.- irrelevant

B. 7 of 10 shopkeepers favor extending the limitation on meat to 9 days. - irrelevant

C. Approximately 65% of the meat display cases nationally maintain temperatures between 47 and 54° F. - Now, we have a problem with the conclusion. (C) tells us that the display temperatures varies between 47 and 54° F, a variation that is well above the 40° F threshold. since the conclusion is built on the assumption that the temperature is uniform at 40° F, (C) certainly weakens the conclusion drawn. Hence, (C) is the right answer here.

D. Approximately half the meat stored for 25 days is still safe to consume. - does not weaken the conclusion

E. Meat packing operations are more efficient when they can make fewer, larger deliveries than when they must make more frequent, smaller deliveries. - irrelevant.

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.