What is pasteurization?

Dairy & Protein

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by Kate Simmons >> more about the author

Milk cartons and juice bottles are often labeled with the word “pasteurized.” This word is important enough to be put on the front labels of some of your favorite foods and drinks. But what does it mean?!

Pasteurization is the process of heating food and drink items to destroy germs, such as bacteria that can make people sick. Pasteurization happens before you buy the food so it’s ready to eat when you bring it home! The process is named after the French scientist Louis Pasteur, who in the 1860s showed that wine could be prevented from spoiling if heated for a few minutes to destroy the damaging germs.

Many of your favorite food items, such as milk and ice cream, are pasteurized. Other pasteurized foods include juices, spices, cheese and certain types of eggs.

There are several types of pasteurization, each differing in the process and the amount of time involved. For example, some food is flash pasteurized at higher temperatures for a shorter amount of time, while other food items are pasteurized using substances like steam. The amount of time required for pasteurization ranges from less than one second to thirty minutes!

There is also a special kind of pasteurization called ultra-high-temperature (UHT) pasteurization. Food and drink items (such as milk and ice cream) are heated to a temperature between 280 and 302 degrees Fahrenheit for a few seconds! The items are then packaged in clean, sealed containers for storage.

Even when food is pasteurized, it must still be handled properly to prevent contamination. For example, always store food and drink items at a safe temperature, refrigerating when needed, and wash your hands before eating or handling food!