BEVERAGE COMPRISING FERROUS PICOLINATE

1 . Beverage comprising fruit and/or vegetables, ferrous picolinate and phenolic chromophore compounds.

2 . A beverage according to claim 1 wherein the phenolic chromophore compounds are selected from the group consisting of curcumin, carminic acid, betanin, polyphenols and mixtures of these.

3 . A beverage according to claim 1 wherein the fruit is selected from the group consisting of strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, apricot, pear, banana, quince, wolfberry and mixtures of these.

4 . A beverage according to claim 1 wherein the beverage is red in color.

5 . A beverage according to claim 1 wherein the beverage is a milk beverage.

6 . A beverage according to claim 5 wherein the milk is cow's milk or soy milk.

7 . A beverage according to claim 5 wherein the beverage is an acidified milk beverage.

8 . Powder for the preparation of a beverage, the powder comprising ferrous picolinate and phenolic chromophore compounds.

9 . A method to fortify a beverage without color change comprising the step of adding ferrous picolinate to the beverage.

10 . Method according to claim 9 wherein the color change over the beverage's shelf-life is prevented.

11 . Method according to claim 9 wherein the beverage is heat treated.

12 . Method according to claim 9 wherein the beverage comprises fruit and/or vegetables.

13 . Method according to claim 9 wherein the beverage is an acidified milk beverage.

14 . Process for fortifying a beverage with iron comprising preparing a beverage containing fruit and/or vegetables and adding ferrous picolinate.

15 . A process according to claim 14 further comprising heat treatment.