DNA matching or fingerprinting is primarily used to link which of the following?

DNA matching or fingerprinting serves as a critical tool in food safety and public health. In the context of the options provided, this technique is primarily utilized to establish a connection between individuals who have become ill due to foodborne pathogens, the specific contaminated food items they consumed, and the locations where these food items were compromised.

When an outbreak of illness occurs, public health officials often collect samples from affected individuals and the suspected food sources. By analyzing the genetic material present in these samples, they can identify common pathogens responsible for the illnesses. This analysis forms a comprehensive picture that links the sick individuals to the contaminated food and identifies where the contamination likely took place, whether it was during production, processing, or distribution.

While other options discuss aspects of food tracking and agricultural practices, they do not directly relate to the core purpose of DNA fingerprinting, which is fundamentally about tracing and linking illness to its source through genetic evidence. Thus, option B accurately represents the primary use of DNA matching within the context of foodborne disease investigations.