Pasteurization is a process that kills pathogens. Manufacturers heat the liquid or food to a high temperature for a short period to eliminate germs that can cause food-borne illnesses, such as E. coli, salmonella, Campylobacter and other dangerous organisms. Some people feel the pasteurization process destroys the flavor and healthfulness of foods and beverages, so they choose fresh, untreated products.
Dairy
Raw milk advocates claim the pasteurization process destroys healthy enzymes and nutrients and also ruins the flavor of milk. Whether this is true, however, doesn't matter so much as the benefits pasteurization offers. Despite the significant advances dairy farmers have made in manufacturing safety, there is no way to prevent bacteria from cow manure from contaminating milk. Pasteurization kills the bacteria, so always choose treated milk over raw, fresh milk.
Juice
Packaged, unpasteurized fruit juice also can harbor bacteria, especially if proper safety methods aren't used during the manufacturing process. Pasteurization is the most effective way to minimize the chance that you will get sick from drinking juice. If you really don't want to drink pasteurized juice, you can make fresh juice yourself by squeezing fruit. As long as you use high-quality produce and clean the fruit well, drinking your own freshly squeezed juice is just as safe as eating solid fresh fruit. For maximum safety, drink your fresh juice immediately.
Eggs
Eggs might harbor salmonella, which can cause stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea. In extreme cases -- which typically involve people whose immune systems are weak -- salmonella can cause death. The freshness of an egg has no bearing on whether it contains salmonella. The only way to eliminate salmonella is to cook the egg fully. However, you can buy pasteurized eggs if a recipe requires uncooked eggs. Mayonnaise, for example, is made with raw eggs. Mayonnaise manufacturers use pasteurized eggs, which is why the products are safe for consumption.
Considerations
Generally, the freshness of a food product doesn't decrease its likelihood of containing such food-borne pathogens as E. coli or salmonella. Consequently, you always should choose pasteurized products over fresh, untreated types, especially if you have a weak immune system. For example, the elderly, young children and pregnant women should avoid unpasteurized products. Their immune systems might not be able to fight off serious infections, so they might not recover from the sicknesses unpasteurized products can introduce.
