pasteurization

British  

/ ˌpɑː-, ˌpæstəraɪˈzeɪʃən, -stjə- /

noun

1. the process of heating beverages, such as milk, beer, wine, or cider, or solid foods, such as cheese or crab meat, to destroy harmful or undesirable microorganisms or to limit the rate of fermentation by the application of controlled heat

---

pasteurization Scientific  

/ păs′chər-ĭ-zā′shən /

1. A process in which an unfermented liquid, such as milk, or a partially fermented one, such as beer, is heated to a specific temperature for a certain amount of time in order to kill pathogens that could cause disease, spoilage, or undesired fermentation. During pasteurization, the liquid is not allowed to reach its boiling point so as to avoid changing its molecular structure.

2. The process of destroying most pathogens in certain foods, such as fish or clams, by irradiating them with gamma rays or other radiation to prevent spoilage.

3. See Note at Pasteur

---

pasteurization Cultural  

1. Heating a fluid, such as milk, for a specific period to kill harmful bacteria. This technique was developed by Louis Pasteur.

---

Example Sentences

Proponents of raw milk say that pasteurization, a heating process that kills harmful bacteria, removes natural health benefits and that warnings around the consumption of raw milk are overstated.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

That idea is certainly more exciting than the banal truth: pasteurization was developed to prevent foodborne illness.

From Salon • Dec. 26, 2024

Once pasteurization became more common, infectious diseases with high infant mortality rates decreased by 50%.

From Salon • Dec. 23, 2024

Although fragments of the H5N1 virus have also been found in conventional milk, the heat and pressure treatment of pasteurization means that processed milk is still definitely safe to drink.

From Slate • Dec. 4, 2024

The milk shall not contain more than an average of 50,000 bacteria per c. c. when delivered to the consumer, or at any time after pasteurization and prior to such delivery.

From Outlines of dairy bacteriology A concise manual for the use of students in dairying by Hastings, Edwin George