Pasteurisation refers to a process of heating liquids such as milk, beer, and wine in order to destroy any pathogenic microorganisms that may be present. Synonyms for pasteurised include sterilised, disinfected, purified, sanitized, treated, and processed. Each of these words conveys the idea of making a substance safe for consumption or use by eliminating harmful bacteria or other contaminants. While the process of pasteurisation was originally invented by Louis Pasteur in the 19th century to preserve wine, it has since become a commonplace procedure used in a variety of industries to ensure the safety of food and other products.