Final answer:
The main idea of the passage is the complex process required to safely transport milk from the cow to the store, which includes several steps such as testing, pasteurization, and quality control to ensure the milk's safety and nutritional value.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage describes the journey of milk from farm to consumer and the safety measures involved in this process, which include the careful handling by dairy farmers, regular testing of cows, and meticulous processes at the milk plant such as quality testing and pasteurization. The main idea of the passage is that there are many complex steps involved in getting milk safely from the cow to the store. These steps are designed to ensure the quality and cleanliness of the milk, prevent the presence of harmful bacteria, and maintain its nutritional value. Two methods of pasteurization are high-temperature short-time (HTST) pasteurization and ultra-high-temperature (UHT) pasteurization. These methods balance temperature and time to effectively kill milkborne pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli while preserving the sensory qualities of the milk, with UHT allowing for long-term storage without refrigeration.