I know you were speaking of sauerkraut; what you are saying suggests any sauerkraut bought in a can or a jar at a store has no living organisms therein.
The kraut that is in cans has definitely been heated to boiling, and is biologically sterile.
The kraut in jars is usually not pasteurized, but just cold filtered, just like beer. That is the good stuff that strengthens your resistance to disease.