WHY salt and sugar used in dried fruits and dried meat

Question

Why salt and sugar employed in the manufacture of the dried fruits and dried meat?

Answer 1

Substances which maintain the highly hypertonic environment, like salt and sugar, are utilized in the manufacture of dried meat, fruits or fish (for instance, cod) because the material to be conserved is then dehydrated and the resulting dryness prevents the growth of populations of decomposer beings (since these beings also lose water and die).