by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes
use a pressure cooker
yes
it is unacceptable
Autoclaving is used to kill all micro-organisms that are in the culture. Autoclaving is usually carried out at 121 deg C with steam under 2 atmospheres of pressure. A clean culture free of all micro-organisms is essential as you only want the organism of intrest to grow.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_are_the_material_prepared_for_autoclaving"
Autoclaving
Autoclaving is more efficient than boiling because it has a hotter temperature. This is sure to clean the tools correctly by sterilizing and remove all germs.
autoclaving
Autoclaving is a method of sterilizing equipment by the use of pressurized high temperature steam. It may be used to sterilize surgical equipment for reuse or for sterilizing bottles prior to filling them with beer, soda pop, or other beverages.
Boiling cannot sterilize scissors but heating at temperatures above the boiling point of water in an autoclaving (121oC) would sterilize scissors after 15-20 minutes.
Assuming you mean commercially packaged.After it is jarred or canned, it is pressure cooked under high pressure long enough to sterilize it completely- just like autoclaving equipment in the hospital.