AU769792B2 - Nutrient beverage - Google Patents

Description

r 1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Adventures Plus Pty Ltd ADDRESS FOR

SERVICF

S~co~t Is 6&'eor- LA 0 N #-4 CULLEN-& CO., Patent Trade Mark Attrnicys. C e 2~96eeeft~l ke 239 George Stce t, Au~tkalia R EG NT220 2) NUTRIENT BEVERAGE csi Details of Associated Provisional Applications: PQ8470 29 June 2000 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 112298695 NUTRIENT BEVERAGE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to carbonated and non-carbonated beverage compositions and beverage concentrates adapted for oral administration which include vitamins, minerals and optionally other supplements.

BACKGROUND ART Vitamin and mineral supplements are well known. Such supplements may be in the form of tablets or capsules. A disadvantage of capsules or tablets is that they are unsuitable for i those who have difficulty swallowing. Also, there is a delay between ingestion and the active ingredients entering the blood stream. This is caused by the time taken for the tablet or capsule to dissolve in the stomach. To overcome these difficulties, effervescent tablets have been proposed. Such tablets are typically designed to be added to a glass of water. However, the dissolved effervescent tablets suffer from palatable problems. This is because many vitamins and/or minerals have an unpleasant flavor. Although flavoring and masking agents are typically employed in an attempt to make these supplements palatable, they are still not considered to be sufficiently palatable for a person to drink them recreationally.

It would therefore be desirable to be able to formulate a vitamin and mineral supplement S* in the form of a beverage which has an appealing taste.

20 An advantage of providing a beverage is that after exercise it is desirable to replenish not only fluids but also nutrients. Beverages designed to facilitate rehydration are known.

However, such beverages have a very low pH, typically about 2.8 to about 3. The beverages are formulated with such a low pH to make them palatable. Humans prefer acidic beverages and this is exemplified by the fact that wines and beers all have a pH of below about 3.4. A disadvantage of such a low pH is that they have an erosive effect on S: teeth. This leads to erosive and abrasion lesions of the teeth. Saliva can have a buffering affect on the acids. However, saliva levels can be depleted when an individual becomes dehydrated such as after exercise, and this is when these types of beverages are most **often consumed.

14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] j023 112298695 There have been a number of attempts to overcome the difficulties associated with the dental erosion. These approaches centre around providing additives to the beverage to combat the erosion. An example of such an additive is simply providing a calcium supplement. Such additives may however have an adverse affect on the taste. Further, the beverage still has a low pH. A low pH may irritate the stomach and cause gastric problems. Also, acidic drinks can exacerbate a condition known as metabolic acidosis which is found in strenuous physical activity. Again, it is after activity that such drinks are most often consumed in large amounts.

It is therefore desirable to provide a beverage and/or concentrate which may at least partially overcome one or more of the above disadvantages or provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the present invention provides a beverage comprising a fruit juice product, a vitamin and mineral supplement, a flavoring agent and water, the pH of the beverage being greater than or equal to about In a second aspect, the present invention provides a beverage comprising a fruit juice product, a vitamin or mineral supplement, a flavouring agent, a consumable acid or salt, and water, the pH of the beverage being greater than or equal to about Suitably, the consumable acid or salt is an additive which is independent of one or more 20 of the: supplement, flavouring agent and water.

The pH of the beverage may be greater than or equal to about 5.5. The pH of the beverage may also be greater than 6.0. Suitably, the pH of the beverage is less than or equal to about 8.0. The pH of the beverage may be less than or equal to about 7.0. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention the pH of the beverage ranges from about 5.5 to about 7.0. PH levels below about 5.0 have measureable erosive effect on teeth.

While pH levels of between about 5.0 and less than 5.5 can, in some circumstances, cause tooth erosion, tooth recalcification by saliva generally counteracts mineral loss.

Counteraction of mineral loss is also assisted by the buffering capacity of saliva which has a pH in the range of 6.35 6.85. For pH levels in the range of about 5.5 to about 7.0 there is 30 no measurable mineral loss.

14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] [024 I "I 7. I. Ym~ n*lll- n lur 112298695 The beverage may be in a single-strength, ready-to-serve, drinkable form. In this case, the beverage may contain between about 5 to about 50 parts per 100 by volume fruit juice.

Typically the beverage may contain between about 15 to about 25 parts by volume fruit juice. As fruit juice has a pH of about 3.0 to about 3.5 it is preferred that the amount of fruit juice in the beverage does not exceed about 50 parts per 100 by volume.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a beverage concentrate for mixing with water to produce a beverage, said concentrate comprising a dehydrated fruit juice product, a vitamin and mineral supplement, and a flavoring agent, said beverage concentrate being arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of water to produce a beverage having a pH of greater than or equal to about In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a beverage concentrate for mixing with water to produce a beverage, said concentrate comprising a dehydrated fruit juice product, a vitamin or mineral supplement, a flavouring agent, and a consumable acid or salt, the beverage concentrate being arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of water to produce a beverage having a pH of greater than or equal to about Suitably, the consumable acid or salt of the fourth aspect of the present invention is an additive which is independent of one or more of the: fruit juice product, supplement and flavouring agent.

In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a beverage concentrate for mixing with a fruit juice product to produce a beverage, said concentrate comprising a vitamin and omineral supplement, and a flavoring agent, said beverage concentrate being arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of fruit juice product to produce a beverage having a pH of greater than or equal to about In a sixth aspect, the present invention provides a beverage concentrate for mixing with a fruit juice product to produce a beverage, said concentrate comprising a vitamin or mineral supplement, a flavouring agent and a consumable acid or salt, said beverage concentrate being arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of fruit juice product to produce a beverage having a pH of greater than or equal to about Suitably, the consumable acid or salt of the sixth aspect of the present invention is an 30 additive which is independent of one or more of the: supplement and flavouring agent.

14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] Q025 112298695 It The beverage concentrate of the third and fourth, and fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention may be arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of water and fruit juice product respectively to produce a beverage having a pH which is greater than or equal to about 5.5. Alternatively, the beverage concentrate of the third and fourth, and fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention may be arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of water and fruit juice product respectively to produce a beverage having a pH which is greater than 6.0. The beverage concentrate of the third and fourth, and fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention is preferably arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of water and fruit juice product respectively to produce a beverage having a pH which is less than or equal to about 8.0. More preferably, the beverage concentrate of the third and fourth, and fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention is arranged upon mixing with a predetermined amount of water and fruit juice product respectively to produce a beverage having a pH which is less than or equal to about 7.0. In one preferred embodiment of the beverage concentrate of the third and fourth, and fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention, the beverage concentrate is arranged for mixing with water and fruit juice product respectively to produce a beverage having a pH ranging from about 5.5 to about Suitably, the beverage of the first and second aspects of the present invention and beverage concentrate of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth aspects comprises a consumable 20 acid or a consumable salt. The beverage of the first and second aspects of the present invention and beverage concentrate of the s third, fourth, fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention may also comprise a consumable base, for example, an alkaline carbonate. The consumable acid, consumable salt and consumable base may comprise an "additive which is added to the beverage or beverage concentrate independently of the: fruit juice product, supplement, flavoring agent and water.

Suitably, the supplement of the beverage of the first and second aspects of the present invention and beverage concentrate of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention comprises either or both of the following: one or more vitamins; or one or more minerals.

The nature and amount of the supplement may vary according to the requirements of the end user. For example, a beverage intended for an endurance athlete may include large 14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] E026 112298695 amounts of some ingredients than a beverage primarily intended for recreational use or vice versa.

Typically, the beverage and beverage concentrate of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention include conventional vitamins, most preferably in sufficient amounts such that the total daily dose contains the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of one or more of such conventional vitamin components. Conventional vitamins include vitamin A (eg. as the acetate or palmitate), vitamin D (eg. as cholecalciferol), vitamin B, (eg. as thiamine mononitrate), vitamin Bz (eg. as riboflavin), vitamin B 6 (eg. as pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B 1 2 (eg. as cyanocobalamin), vitamin C (eg. as ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate), vitamin D, vitamin E (eg. as the dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate), folic acid and niacin. Optionally, additional vitamins, such as vitamin K (eg. as phytonadione), biotin, and pantothenic acid (eg. as calcium pantothenate) may also be included. The beverage and beverage concentrate of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention may also include one or more of the following minerals: manganese, iron, molydenum, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, selenium, boron, copper and molydenum. These minerals are typically provided, in the beverage of the first aspect of the present invention, or the concentrate of the remaining aspects of the present invention when appropriately mixed with water or fruit juice product, in a water soluble, bioavailable form.

20 A unit dose of the beverage of the first and second aspects of the present invention of about 500ml preferably contains about one half the RDA of the vitamins and minerals included in the unit dose of the beverage.

A unit dose of the beverage concentrate of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention is preferably arranged to mix with 500ml of either water or fruit juice product, as appropriate, and preferably contains about one half the RDA of minerals and vitamins included in the beverage concentrate.

The beverage and beverage concentrate of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention may also include other agents believed to be beneficial to human health such as bioflavonoids, essential fatty acids and carbohydrates such as glucose.

Flavouring agents are well known in the art. Preferred flavoring agents are those which are suitably used for masking and/or flavoring effervescent type vitamin and mineral 14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] [027 112298695 6.

supplements as described above. These are well known in the art. The relative amount of the flavoring agent will vary, depending upon the nature of the agent the desired flavor, the amount required to mask any unpleasant tasting vitamins or minerals, and the flavor of the fruit juice.

Edible acids are weak acids and thus have a buffering capacity. In this way the beverage of the first and second aspects of the present invention may be buffered to about the desired pH. The beverage concentrate of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention may also, when appropriately mixed with water or fruit juice product, be similarly buffered by the edible acids. Suitable acids are carboxylic acids and include citric, tartaric, malic, succinic, adipic and fumaric acid. The acids may be present as the free acid, an acid salt or a mixture thereof. Preferably the acidd is present at least partially in the form of a sodium or potassium salt.

The beverage of the first and second aspects of the present invention may be formulated as either a still or a carbonated drink.

The beverage concentrate of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention may be in a liquid form. The fruit juice product: of the first and second aspects of the present invention, of the concentrate of the third, and fourth aspects of the present invention, or which the concentrate of the fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention is arranged for mixing with, may include pure fruit juice or other non-pure forms of fruit oo. o. 20 juice. It may also include concentrated products which are referred to as "nectars".

Nectars usually have added sugars or artificial sweeteners or carbohydrate substitutes.

The fruit juice product may also be derived from a substantially solid substance, for example, a dehydrated powdered or granulated substance. The beverage concentrate of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention may be provided in a free flowing form enabling a user to measure out a predetermined amount for adding to a predetermined amount of water or fruit juice product, as appropriate. Alternatively, the beverage concentrate may be packaged in satchels. The beverage concentrate may also be formulated into a tablet and suitably the tablet includes an alkali metal bicarbonate and/or carbonate so as to form an effervescent couple with an edible carboxylic acid. The bicarbonate may also react with an edible carboxylic acid to produce a buffer. For example, sodium bicarbonate will react with citric acid to produce sodium citrate.

14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] [9028 112298695 The fruit juice product which the concentrate of the fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention is mixed with is preferably a diluted fruit juice produce. The diluted fruit juice product is preferably diluted with water.

The beverage and beverage concentrate of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention may also include an electrolyte supplement. Electrolytes are often included in drinks intended for consumption by athletes. Such electrolytes include potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate and sulfate.

The beverage and beverage concentrate of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention may also contain a sweetener which may be a natural sweetener such as sugar or an artificial sweetener. Such sweeteners are well known in the beverage art. Preferred sweetners include sugars such as malto dextran, glucose, fructose, galactose and brown sugar.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In order that the nature of the present invention my be more dearly understood, a preferred form thereof will now be described with reference to the following non-limiting example.

A beverage of the present invention may be formulated according to the following formula: Whole fruit juice 200ml Vitamin A 10000 IU Vitamin D 360 IU Vitamin B, Vitamin B 2 Vitamin B 6 Vitamin B12 Vitamin C 150mg •Vitamin E Nicotinamide 30 Calcium-d-panthothenate 0.25mg Iron (as carbonate) 1.25mg 14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] 029 112298695 1.

Magnesium (as glycerophosphate) Calcium (as glycerophosphate) 50.0mg Phosphorous (as calcium and magnesium glycerophosphate) 45.0mg Manganese (as sulphate) Sodium bicarbonate 1.76g Anhydrous sodium citrate 0.63g Citric acid 0.72g Tartaric acid 0.89g Magnesium glycinate Manganese glycinate Malic acid 300mg Thiamin mononitrate Brown sugar Filtered water to 1000ml The pH of the above solution is about 5.3.

The beverage formulated according to the above formula is surprisingly and unexpectedly palatable considering the pH is significantly higher than other beverages on the market. By way of example, popular beverages such as Gatorade, Powerade and Iso-sport have a pH of 2.9, 2.9 and 3.0 respectively.

The beverage of the present invention has a pH which, in most circumstances, causes no measurable dental erosion. Further as the level of hydrogen ions is much lower, the beverage of the invention is less likely to cause gastric upsets as a result of excessive acid.

Further, the beverage may be able to counter metabolic acidosis as found in strenuous physical activity.

It will be appreciated that the relative amounts of vitamins, minerals and electrolytes in the above formula may be varied according to anticipated use for example whether to be used as a recreational supplement or by an endurance athlete. Still further, it is believed that the wide range of vitamins, minerals and other micro-nutrients in the above formula may enhance physical performance under stress or fatigue conditions.

The juice is found to be of benefit when recovering from surgery, and illness such as glandular fever and chronic fatigue conditions.

14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] 1|030 112298695 Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

All publications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia or elsewhere before the priority date of each claim of this application.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

**oo *Doe me* 0000 C C 14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] I031

Claims (37)

1. A beverage comprising a fruit juice product, a vitamin and mineral supplement, a flavoring agent, and water, the pH of the beverage being greater than or equal to about

2. A beverage comprising a fruit juice product, a vitamin or mineral supplement, a flavouring agent, a consumable acid or salt, and water, the pH of the beverage being greater than or equal to about

3. A beverage as claimed in claim 2 wherein the consumable acid or salt is an additive which is independent of one or more of the: fruit juice product, supplement, flavouring agent and water.

4. A beverage as claimed in claim 1 comprising a consumable acid. A beverage as claimed in any one of claims 2-4 wherein the consumable acid comprises one or more of the following carboxylic acids: citric, tartaric, malic, succinic, adipic and fumaric.

6. A beverage as claimed in c any one of claims 2-5 wherein the consumable acid is an additive which is independent of one or more of the: fruit juice product, supplement, flavouring agent and water.

7. A beverage as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 4-6 comprising a consumable salt. 20 8. A beverage as claimed in any one of claims 2-3 and claim 7 wherein the consumable salt is an additive which is independent of one or more of the: fruit juice product, supplement, flavouring agent and water.

9. A beverage as claimed in any one of claims 2-8 comprising a consumable base. *0 2 10. A beverage as claimed in claim 9 wherein the consumbale base is an additive 25 which is independent of one or more of the: fruit juice product, supplement, flavouring agent and water. 011 14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] [032 112298695

11. A beverage as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the consumable base is an alkaline carbonate.

12. A beverage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pH of the beverage is greater than or equal to about

13. A beverage as claimed in any one of claims 1-11 wherein the pH of the beverage is greater than

14. A beverage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pH of the beverage is less than or equal to about A beverage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pH of the beverage is less than or equal to about

16. A beverage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising between about 5 to about 50 parts per 100 by volume fruit juice.

17. A beverage as claimed in any one of claims 1 tol5, comprising between about 15 to about 25 parts per 100 by volume fruit juice.

18. A beverage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fruit juice product is derived from a nectar or a concentrate.

19. A beverage as claimed in claim 18, wherein said fruit juice product is derived from a substantially solid substance.

20. A beverage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the vitamin or mineral supplement comprises the following approximate quantities of the following vitamins per 1000mls: Vitamin A (eg. as the acetate or 10000 IU Vitamin B, (eg. palmitate) as pyridoxine hydrochloride) Vitamin D (eg. as cholecalciferol) 360 IU Vitamin B 1 2 (eg.as S* cyanocobalami 99n) 14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] @033 112298695 1. Vitamin B 1 (eg. as thiamine 20mg Vitamin C (eg. 150mg mononitrate) as ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate) Vitamin B 2 (eg. as riboflavin) 5mg Vitamin E (eg. as the dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate)

21. A beverage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in the form of a concentrate.

22. A beverage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in a substantially solid form.

23. A beverage as claimed in any one fo the preceding claims in a substantially de- hydrated form.

24. A beverage as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the beverage has a pH of about 5.3 and each 1000ml of the beverage comprises the following approximate quantities of the following substances: Whole fruit juice 200ml Vitamin A 10000 IU SVitamin D 360 IU S. Vitamin B 1 Vitamin B, Vitamin B 6 Vitamin B 1 2 Vitamin C 150mg Vitamin E Nicotinamide Calcium-d-panthothenate 0.25mg Iron (as carbonate) 1.25mg Magnesium (as glycerophosphate) Calcium (as glycerophosphate)

50.0mg 14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] @1034 112298695 13. Phosphorous (as calcium and magnesium glycerophosphate) 45.0mg Manganese (as sulphate) Sodium bicarbonate 1.76g Anhydrous sodium citrate 0.63g Citric acid 0.72g Tartaric acid 0.89g Magnesium glycinate Manganese glycinate Malic acid 300mg Thiamin mononitrate Brown sugar Filtered water to 1000ml A beverage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a dissolved gas to form a carbonated beverage. 26. A beverage concentrate for mixing with water to produce a beverage, said concentrate comprising an at least partially concentrated fruit juice product, a vitamin and mineral supplement, and a flavoring agent, said beverage concentrate being arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of water to produce a beverage having a pH of greater than or equal to about 'I 27. A beverage concentrate for mixing with water to produce a beverage, said concentrate comprising an at least partially concentrated fruit juice product, a vitamin or mineral supplement, a flavouring agent, and a consumable acid or salt, said beverage S. concentrate being arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of water to produce a beverage having a pH of greater than or equal to about 28. A beverage concentrate as claimed in claim 27 wherein the consumable acid or salt in an additive which is independent of one or more of the: fruit juice product, supplement and flavouring agent. 29. A beverage concentrate as claimed in claim 26 comprising a consumable acid. 30 30. A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 27-29 wherein the Sconsumable acd comprises one or more of the following carboxylic acids: citric, tartaric, malic, succinic, adipic and fumaric. 14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] @]035 Bgirin^il'jll'!t" fi?""al"ii'"l IYU I i l SP^ l- II1 im. L11r- llilF^Di^1. 11 111I^II17~1*(Fl ii~N 112298695 31. A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 27-30 wherein the consumable acid is an additive which is independent of the: fruit juice product, supplementand flavouring agent. 32. A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 26 and 29-31 comprising a consumable salt. 33. A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 27-28 and 32 wherein the consumable salt is an additive which is independent of the: fruit juice product, supplement and flavoring agent. 34. A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 29-33 comprising a consumable base. A beverage concentrate as claimed in claim 34 wherein the consumbable base is an additive which is independent of the: fruit juice product, supplement and flavoring agent. 36. A beverage concentrate as claimed in claim 34 or claim 35 wherein the consumable base is an alkaline carbonate. 37. A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 26-36 arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of water to produce a beverage having a pH that is greater 'than or equal to about 38. A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 26-36 arranged for mixing 20 with a predetermined amount of water to produce a beverage having a pH that is greater than 39. A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 26-38 arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of water to produce a beverage having a pH that is less than or equal to about 25 40. A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 26-39 arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of water to produce a beverage having a pH that is less than or equal to about 14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] f036 112298695 41. A beverage concentrate for mixing with a fruit juice product to produce a beverage, said concentrate comprising a vitamin and mineral supplement, and a flavoring agent, said beverage concentrate being arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of fruit juice product to produce a beverage having a pH of greater than or equal to about 42. A beverage concentrate for mixing with a fruit juice product to produce a beverage, said concentrate comprising a vitamin or mineral supplement, a flavouring agent, and a consumable acid or salt, said beverage concentrate being arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of fruit juice product to produce a beverage having a pH of greater than or equal to about 43. A beverage concentrate as claimed in claim 27 wherein the consumable acid or salt is an additive which is independent of one or more of the: supplement and flavouring agent. 44. A beverage concentrate as claimed in claim 41 comprising a consumable acid. 45. A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 42-44 wherein the consumable acid comprises one or more of the following carboxylic acids: citric, tartaric, malic, succinic, adipic and fumaric. 46. A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 42-45 wherein the consumable acid is an additive which is independent of the: supplement and flavoring 20 agent. 47. A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 41 and 44-46 comprising a consumable salt. 48. A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 42-43 and 47 wherein the consumable salt is an additive which is independent of the: supplement and flavoring agent. 49. A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 42-48 comprising a consumable base. A beverage concentrate as claimed in claim 49 wherein the consumbable base is an additive which is independent of the: supplement andflavoring agent. 14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] [037 112298695

51. A beverage concentrate as claimed in claim 49 or claim 50 wherein the consumable base is an alkaline carbonate.

52. A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 41-51 arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of fruit juice product to produce a beverage having a pH that is greater than or equal to about

53. A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 41-51 arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of fruit juice product to produce a beverage having a pH that is greater than

54., A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 41-53 arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of fruit juice product to produce a beverage having a pH that is less than or equal to about A beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 41-54 arranged for mixing with a predetermined amount of fruit juice product to produce a beverage having a pH that is less than or equal to about

56. A beverage or beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of the claims 2-3, 27-28 and 42-43 wherein the vitamin or mineral supplement comprises either or both of the following: one or vitamins; or one or more minerals.

57. A beverage or beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims .o. wherein vitamins of the vitamin and mineral supplement, or vitamin or mineral supplement comprise one or more of the following: vitamin A (eg. as the acetate or palmitate), vitamin D (eg. as cholecalciferol), vitamin B 1 (eg. as thiamine mononitrate), vitamin B 2 (eg. as riboflavin), vitamin B, (eg. as pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin Bu (eg. as cyanocobalamin), vitamin C (eg. as ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate), vitamin E (eg. as the dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate), folic acid and niacin. 25 58. A beverage or beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein vitamins of the vitamin and mineral supplement, or vitamin or mineral supplement comprise one or more of the following: vitamin K (eg. as phytonadione), biotin and pantothenic acid (eg. as calcium pantothenate). 14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828 14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] I]038 Il~(i~ll lm~~~lly_~II~*Un~~Fd~iBr311 LII~~L~ inr-nillilLlll~iL"LLillLihWlli~ Ili:lri liL-l r ilrl(i~~i i1 I(ljl~~illF~t" (II(l li~~l*iilyil 11)I111I~ 11- 112298695

59. A beverage or beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein minerals of the of the vitamin and mineral supplement, or vitamin or mineral supplement comprise one or more of the following minerals: manganese, iron, molydenum, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, selenium, boron and copper.

60. A beverage or beverage concentrate as claimed in claim 59 wherein the one or more minerals are in a water soluble or bioavailable form.

61. A beverage or beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising bioflavonoids.

62. A beverage or beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising carbohydrates.

63. A beverage or beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising an electrolyte supplement comprising one or more of the following electrolytes: potassium, sodium calcium, magnesium, chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate and sulfate.

64. A beverage or beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a sweetener.

65. A beverage concentrate asclaimed in claim 26 wherein the at least partially concentrated fruit juice product is an at least partially dehydrated fruit juice product.

66. A beverage or beverage concentrate as claimed in any one of claims 2-25, 27-40 and 42-65, comprising a predetermined amount of the consumable acid or the consumable salt. 14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] @039 B T l l' i 112298695

67. A beverage substantially as herein described.

68. A beverage concentrate substantially as herein described. Dated: 14 October 2003 Adventures Plus Pty Ltd By their Registered Patent Attorney BLAKE DAWSON WALDRON PATIENT SERVICES S S SS S S *SSS S I. 14/10 '03 TUE 18:49 [TX/RX NO 9828] 9~040 R711 R, TTMi