a method for pasteurizing a continuous product chain in a device having an inlet , heat - up , pasteurization , and cooling regions all divided into treatment zones , and a transporter for passing products through these regions includes heating up , pasteurizing , and cooling by heat transfer between the products and a spray medium with which the products are sprayed , for each of the treatment zones , adapting a temperature of the spray medium to cause a desired consequence to heat transfer in the treatment zone , and varying a pasteurization process by changing a volumetric flow rate of the spray medium in at least one treatment zone between a maximum value and a minimum value .