question #1 Sahih Muslim 374b, Book 3, Hadith 149 : What is the significance of performing ablution before eating in Islamic tradition?

We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he had come out of the privy. Food was presented to him. It was said to him (by the Companions around him): Wouldn’t you perform ablution? Upon this he said: Why, am I to say prayer that I should perform ablution?