What is the main difference between pasteurization and sterilization?

The main difference between pasteurization and sterilization is that pasteurization reduces microbial load rather than eliminating all microbial life. Pasteurization is a process designed primarily to kill pathogenic microorganisms and significantly reduce spoilage organisms to enhance food safety and extend shelf-life, without drastically changing the taste or nutritional value of the product.

In contrast, sterilization involves the complete destruction of all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and their spores. This process is typically achieved through methods that utilize higher temperatures and longer exposure times, which can alter the product more significantly than pasteurization.

By focusing on reducing the bacterial load while still maintaining the integrity of the food product, pasteurization serves a practical purpose in food processing and safety, making it a key technique in ensuring that food products are safe for consumption while avoiding the extremes of complete sterilization.