Patent ID: 7794770

Claim:
A protein beverage composition suitable for human consumption, comprising: about 0% by weight to about 98% by weight juice; about 2% by weight to about 15% by weight protein, wherein said protein is essentially free of lactose and hydrolyzed lactose; and wherein said protein beverage composition exhibits a pH ranging from about 2.0 to about 3.4 and is essentially free of lactose and hydrolyzed lactose, wherein both, at the time of packaging of the protein beverage and during subsequent storage without refrigeration for a time period of at least one year after packaging, substantial solubility of the protein is maintained in the beverage composition, and wherein said protein beverage is essentially free of pathogenic microbes known to be harmful to human health, both at the time of packaging of the protein beverage and for a time period of at least one year after packaging.