What constitutes ready-to-eat (RTE) food?

Ready-to-eat (RTE) food refers to items that are safe to eat without any further preparation, cooking, or processing. This definition highlights that such foods can be consumed directly as they are, without any additional steps needed to ensure their safety or edibility. For example, pre-packaged salads, deli meats, and cooked and cooled foods are all considered ready-to-eat because they can go straight from the packaging to the plate without any cooking or heating involved.

Other choices describe different categories of food that require some level of preparation or processing. Foods that must be cooked before consumption or require reheating cannot be classified as ready-to-eat, as they need further handling to be safe or palatable. Similarly, food that needs to be preserved before eating involves steps to ensure safety and longevity, thus moving it outside the RTE category. Therefore, the correct answer emphasizes the convenience and immediate safety of ready-to-eat foods.