Which process involves heating a food to a specific temperature for a specific period to eliminate harmful microorganisms?

The process in question is pasteurization, which is specifically designed to eliminate harmful microorganisms from food and beverages through heat treatment. During pasteurization, food or liquid is heated to a precise temperature for a set amount of time, which is carefully monitored to ensure that pathogens are destroyed while preserving the food's flavor and nutritional value. This method is commonly applied to dairy products, juices, and various other products to enhance food safety without significantly altering the product.

Other options like blanching, cooking, and canning serve different purposes. Blanching involves briefly boiling food and then quickly cooling it, primarily to preserve color, texture, and nutrients, rather than ensuring long-term safety against pathogens. Cooking generally applies to preparing food through various methods, which can certainly kill microorganisms, but it does not always involve the controlled techniques required to achieve the specific safety standards set by pasteurization. Finally, canning entails sealing food in containers and heating it, which can also kill pathogens but is a different process that focuses more on preservation over an extended period rather than just the elimination of harmful microorganisms for immediate consumption.