The process by which food or beverages are subjected to a specific heat for a required time in order to destroy potentially harmful microorganisms: The farmer took his milk to the central dairy for pasteurization so it could protect consumers before it would be sold at stores .

The word pasteurization refers to the process originated by Louis Pasteur in which milk or another liquid is heated to a specified moderate temperature for a set period of time; for example, to 60 degrees centigrade for 30 minutes, in order to kill pathogenic bacteria and to delay the growth of other harmful germs.