Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Milk sterilization is a severe heat treatment process designed to destroy all microorganisms, including highly resistant bacterial spores, to ensure the product is shelf-stable at room temperature. There are two main types: in-bottle sterilization and Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) processing.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The question refers to the traditional commercial in-bottle or in-can sterilization of milk. In this process, milk is filled into glass bottles or metal cans, hermetically sealed, and then heated in a retort or continuous sterilizer. The temperature-time combination must be sufficient to achieve a "botulinum cook" (though milk spoilage is usually limited by thermophilic spores).
Standard commercial practice for in-bottle sterilization involves heating the milk to temperatures between 110 $^{\circ}$C and 118 $^{\circ}$C for a holding time of 15 to 25 minutes. This range ensures that even the most heat-resistant spoilage organisms like Bacillus stearothermophilus are inactivated. Option (A) is too low (pasteurization/boiling range), Option (B) is typical for autoclaving laboratory media or surgical instruments, and Option (D) refers to a flow-through system without a defined hold, which is not standard for sterilized milk.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct sterilisation temperature/time is 110 - 118 $^{\circ}$C for 15-25 min.