kill step
n.— «Threatened with a federal shutdown, the pie maker, ConAgra Foods, began spot-checking the vegetables for pathogens, but could not find the culprit. It also tried cooking the vegetables at high temperatures, a strategy the industry calls a “kill step,” to wipe out any lingering microbes. But the vegetables turned to mush in the process.» —“Food Companies Try, but Can’t Guarantee Safety” by Michael Moss New York Times May 14, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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