PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sterilization method and apparatus capable of performing sterilization treatment on an object to be treated comprising a powdered or granulated dry food with high reliability and high efficiency.SOLUTION: A sterilization method includes a moisture addition step of adding moisture to an object to be treated comprising a powdered or granulated dry food, and a sterilization step of sterilizing the object to be treated, subjected to the moisture addition step, with ozone. In addition, the sterilization step is performed by irradiating the surface of the object to be treated with ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 200 nm or less. A sterilization apparatus 10F includes a container 11 for housing an object to be treated comprising a powdered or granulated dry food, moisture supply means 15 for supplying moisture into the container 11, ozone supply means 16 for supplying ozone into the container 11, and a control part 17 for controlling the operation of the water supply means 15 and the ozone supply means 16, where the control part 17 supplies the ozone into the container 11 by the ozone supply means 16 after supplying the moisture into the container 11 is by the moisture supply means 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17COPYRIGHT: (C)2020,JPO&INPIT【課題】粉粒状の乾燥食品よりなる被処理物に対する殺菌処理を高い信頼性および高い効率で行うことができる殺菌方法および殺菌装置の提供。【解決手段】粉粒状の乾燥食品よりなる被処理物に水分を付与する水分付与工程と、水分付与工程を経た被処理物をオゾンにより殺菌する殺菌工程とを含む殺菌方法。又、殺菌工程が波長２００ｎｍ以下の紫外線を被処理物の表面に照射することにより行われる該殺菌方法。粉粒状の乾燥食品よりなる被処理物を収容する容器１１と、容器１１内に水分を供給する水分供給手段１５と、容器１１内にオゾンを供給するオゾン供給手段１６と、水分供給手段１５及びオゾン供給手段１６の動作を制御する制御部１７とを有し、制御部１７は、水分供給手段１５により容器１１内に水分を供給した後、オゾン供給手段１６による容器１１内へのオゾンの供給を行うものである殺菌装置１０Ｆ。【選択図】図１７
