Beverage compositions having low levels of preservative with enhanced microbial stability

摘要

The present disclosure relates to beverage compositions comprising low levels of preservative, without the need for hot or aseptic packing. In particular, the present invention relates to beverage compositions comprising: (a) from about 20 ppm to about 50 ppm of a preservative selected from the group consisting of sorbic acid, alkali metal salts thereof and mixtures thereof; (b) from about 300 ppm to about 1500 ppm of a polyphosphate having the structure; where n averages from about 13 to about 35 and each M is independently selected from the group consisting of sodium and potassium; and (c) water; wherein the beverage composition has a pH of front about 2 to about 5 and a total hardness of from 60 to about 300.