A laser-induced cavitation-based sterilization technique was demonstrated to efficiently inactivate foodborne pathogenic bacteria with a low loss of nutrients. A sterilization efficiency of more than 90% (less than 5  ×  10⁵  colony-forming unit  /  mL) was achieved when the flow rate was no more than 40  μL  /  s on a chip that could mimic an industrial sterilization system. In addition, the sterilization efficiency could be enhanced if the channels of the chip were coated with Ta₂O₅  /  SiO₂ film. Moreover, the nutrient composition of the milk was well preserved. The laser-induced cavitation-based sterilization technique provides an alternative method for the inactivation of foodborne pathogenic bacteria.