What defines raw milk?

Raw milk is defined specifically as milk that has not been pasteurized. Pasteurization is a heat treatment process that eliminates pathogenic bacteria and extends the shelf life of milk. Therefore, when milk is labeled as "raw," it indicates that it comes directly from the animal and has not undergone this heating process, preserving its natural state, including all its nutrients and enzymes.

The other options refer to different aspects of milk processing. For example, milk that is processed to remove bacteria would typically be pasteurized or treated in some other way to ensure safety. Homogenization, on the other hand, is a mechanical process that breaks down fat molecules to prevent cream from separating; this process does not relate to the definition of raw milk. Lastly, milk containing artificial additives speaks to the enhancement or alteration of milk with substances that may not naturally occur in it, which is unrelated to the definition of raw milk.