Enriched Beverages and Methods of Making The Same

1 . A composition comprising:

an oil comprising at least one long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid;

pectin; and

a beverage component,

wherein said composition is free of alginate and of calcium gluconate.

2 . The composition claim 1 , wherein the oil is from a microbial source.

3 . The composition of claim 2 , wherein the microbial source is a microorganism selected from the group consisting of algae, bacteria, fungi, and protists.

4 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the microorganism is an algae.

5 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the microbial source is an oleaginous microorganism.

6 . The composition of claim 5 , wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of the genus Thraustochytrium , microorganisms of the genus Schizochytrium , microorganisms of the genus Althomia , microorganisms of the genus Aplanochytrium , microorganisms of the genus Japonochytrium , microorganisms of the genus Labyrinthula , microorganisms of the genus Labyrinthuloides , microorganisms of the genus Crypthecodinium , microorganisms of the genus Mortierella , and mixtures thereof.

7 . The composition of claim 6 , wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of microorganisms of the genus Thraustochytrium , microorganisms of the genus Schizochytrium , microorganisms of the genus Crypthecodinium , microorganisms of the genus Mortierella and mixtures thereof.

8 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein oil is from a plant source.

9 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the oil is from an animal source.

12 . (canceled)

13 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of an omega-3 LC PUFA, an omega-6 LC PUFA, and a mixture thereof.

14 . The composition of claim 13 , wherein the omega-3 LC-PUFA or omega-6 LC PUFA is selected from the group consisting of docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, arachidonic acid and mixtures thereof.

15 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the oil comprises at least about 20% omega-3 LC PUFAs.

16 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the oil comprises at least about 30% omega-3 LC PUFAs.

17 - 21 . (canceled)

22 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the oil comprises between about 5 mg and about 1000 mg of omega-3 LC PUFA or omega-6 LC PUFA per serving.

23 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the oil comprises between about 5 mg and about 250 mg of omega-3 LC PUFA or omega-6 LC PUFA per serving.

24 - 26 . (canceled)

27 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the oil is encapsulated in a powder.

28 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the pectin is selected from the group consisting of a natural pectin and a modified pectin.

29 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising an antioxidant.

30 . The composition of claim 29 , wherein the antioxidant is selected from vitamin E, butylhydroxytoluene (BHT), butylhydroxyanisole (BHA), tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), propyl gallate (PG), vitamin C, phospholipids, natural antioxidants, and combinations thereof.

31 . The composition of claim 29 , wherein the antioxidant is present in an amount between about 0.01 and about 0.2 by weight of the oil.

32 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the pectin is present in an amount of about 0.020% to 0.10% by weight of the composition.

33 - 35 . (canceled)

36 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the beverage component is selected from the group consisting of a natural flavor and an artificial flavor.

37 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said beverage component is selected from the group consisting of fruit juice, fruit flavor, fruit concentrate, tea, carbonated water, protein and mixtures thereof.

38 . The composition of claim 37 , wherein the beverage component is fruit juice.

39 . The composition of claim 38 , wherein the fruit juice is orange juice.

40 . The composition of claim 38 , wherein the fruit juice is concentrated.

41 . A composition comprising:

an oil comprising at least one LC PUFA;

pectin; and

water or an aqueous phase,

wherein said composition is free of alginate and of calcium gluconate.

42 - 75 . (canceled)

76 . A process for preparing the composition of claim 1 , comprising:

(a) combining an oil comprising at least one long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid and pectin;

(b) adding the mixture produced in (a) to the beverage component.

77 - 84 . (canceled)

85 . A composition produced by the process of claim 76 .

86 . A process for preparing the composition of claim 1 , comprising:

(a) combining an oil comprising a long chain fatty acid selected from the group consisting of an omega-3 LC PUFA, an omega-6 LC PUFA, and a mixture thereof and pectin;

(b) adding the mixture produced in (a) to the beverage component;

(c) subjecting the mixture produced in (b) to homogenization.

87 - 92 . (canceled)