pasteurization
noun
pas·teur·i·za·tion
ˌpas-chə-rə-ˈzā-shən 
ˌpas-tyə-,
-tə-
1
: partial sterilization of a substance and especially a liquid (such as milk) at a temperature and for a period of exposure that destroys objectionable organisms without major chemical alteration of the substance
2
: irradiation of food products
Examples of pasteurization in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that milk and other dairy products from cows are safe to consume, since the pasteurization process seems to inactivate the virus.
—
Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2024
Testing confirms pasteurization kills the virus, and the FDA says the commercial milk supply is safe.
—Laura Doan, CBS News, 13 May 2024
Testing has shown those viral fragments to be inactive — neutralized by the pasteurization process.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2024
In good news for milk drinkers, new FDA and academic studies showed that pasteurization does indeed inactivate the H5N1 bird flu virus, STAT’s Megan Molteni writes.
—Rachel Cohrs Zhang Reprints, STAT, 2 May 2024
However, there’s no strong evidence to support these claims, and pasteurization does not destroy the nutritional value of milk.4
Raw milk contributes to hundreds of infections in the U.S. each year.
—Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 7 May 2024
The tests needed to conclusively determine whether pasteurization kills H5N1 take time and involve injecting eggs with milk samples, but, according to the F.D.A., preliminary studies haven’t found any traces of live virus.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 5 May 2024
The process of pasteurization became routine in the commercial milk supply in the U.S. in the 1920s and was widespread by the 1950s.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024
Tests conducted by the USDA indicate that pasteurization—a process of heating milk to kill contaminants—deactivates any infectious virus within the milk.
—Matt Reynolds, WIRED, 3 May 2024
Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2024
Testing confirms pasteurization kills the virus, and the FDA says the commercial milk supply is safe.
—Laura Doan, CBS News, 13 May 2024
Testing has shown those viral fragments to be inactive — neutralized by the pasteurization process.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2024
In good news for milk drinkers, new FDA and academic studies showed that pasteurization does indeed inactivate the H5N1 bird flu virus, STAT’s Megan Molteni writes.
—Rachel Cohrs Zhang Reprints, STAT, 2 May 2024
However, there’s no strong evidence to support these claims, and pasteurization does not destroy the nutritional value of milk.4
Raw milk contributes to hundreds of infections in the U.S. each year.
—Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 7 May 2024
The tests needed to conclusively determine whether pasteurization kills H5N1 take time and involve injecting eggs with milk samples, but, according to the F.D.A., preliminary studies haven’t found any traces of live virus.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 5 May 2024
The process of pasteurization became routine in the commercial milk supply in the U.S. in the 1920s and was widespread by the 1950s.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024
Tests conducted by the USDA indicate that pasteurization—a process of heating milk to kill contaminants—deactivates any infectious virus within the milk.
—Matt Reynolds, WIRED, 3 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pasteurization.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pasteurization
Cite this Entry
“Pasteurization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pasteurization. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pasteurization
noun
pas·teur·i·za·tion
ˌpas-chə-rə-ˈzā-shən
ˌpas-tə-
: the process of heating a liquid (as milk) to a temperature high enough and keeping it at that temperature long enough to kill many objectionable germs and then cooling it rapidly without causing a major change in its chemical composition
Medical Definition
pasteurization
noun
pas·teur·iza·tion
variants
also British pasteurisation
1
: partial sterilization of a substance and especially a liquid (as milk) at a temperature and for a period of exposure that destroys pathogenic microorganisms
2
: partial sterilization of perishable food products (as fruit or poultry) with radiation (as gamma rays emitted by cobalt 60)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share