STORAGE STABLE CALCIUM-SUPPLEMENTED BEVERAGE CONCENTRATES

摘要

This application relates to storage stable beverage concentrates for preparing beverages and food compositions which are nutritionally supplemented with significant levels of calcium and to a method for preparing these concentrates. The beverage concentrates have a greater than 5 fold concentration and comprise: (a) from about 0.2 % to about 1.20 %, by weight, solubilized calcium; (b) from about 0.7 % to about 8.25 %, by weight, of an acid component comprising a mixture of citric acid and malic acid wherein said mixture has a weight ratio of citric acid to malic acid of from about 5:95 to about 50:50; (c) from about 0.05 % to about 1.2 %, by weight, of an acidic anion component selected from the group consisting of chloride ion, nitrate ion, sulfate ion and mixtures thereof; (d) an effective amount of a flavor component; and (e) from about 35 % to about 80 % sugar by weight on a dry basis; (f) from about 20 % to about 65 %, by weight, water; wherein the weight ratio of said acid component to said solubilized calcium is from about 3.5 to about 6.5 and said beverage concentrate has a pH of less than or equal to about 4.5, preferably less than or equal to about 3.5. These beverage concentrates are stable at temperatures of greater than 90 DEG F (32 DEG C) for at least about 30 days. An added benefit is their stability for at least about 120 days at temperatures of from about 70 DEG F (21 DEG C) to about 90 DEG F (32 DEG C).