Patent ID: 7205018

Claim:
A carbonated whey protein beverage composition suitable for human consumption, comprising: about 2% by weight to about 15% by weight whey protein, wherein the source of said whey protein is whey protein isolate that is essentially free of caseinate and lactose; about 0.1 volumes to about 4 volumes of carbon dioxide gas present per volume of whey protein beverage liquid composition; and wherein said carbonated whey protein beverage composition exibits a pH ranging from about 2.0 to about 3.4, wherein both, at the time of packaging of the carbonated whey protein beverage and during subsequent storage without refrigeration for a time period of at least one year after packaging, substantial solubility of the whey protein is maintained in the beverage composition, and said carbonated whey protein beverage is essentially free of active microbes known to be harmful to human health.