In 1864, Louis Pasteur developed the pasteurization process, a method of heating liquids to kill harmful bacteria and pathogens. This innovation revolutionized food safety and disease control, significantly reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses. Pasteur's work laid the foundation for modern microbiology and public health practices, influencing how food and beverages are processed and consumed worldwide.

The pasteurization process developed by Louis Pasteur bolstered faith in science during the Industrial Age, inspiring literary works on progress, microbiology, and humanity's battle against invisible threats. Poets like W.H. Auden and Marianne Moore incorporated scientific themes into their explorations of modern life.