COLOR STABLE IRON FORTIFIED DRY DRINK MIXES, READY-TO-DRINK BEVERAGES AND FOODS OTHER THAN BEVERAGES THAT OPTIONALLY CONTAIN ZINC

The present invention relates to color and flavor improvements in iron and zinc supplemented dry beverage powders having fruit and/or botanical flavor. Vitamins such as the B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E can be added to the dry beverage mix. The supplemented dry beverage mix can also contain iodine, niacin and folic acid. In particular, methods for fortifying dry beverage mixes with certain bioavailable zinc and iron compounds without producing reconstituted beverages having undesirable color or flavor are disclosed. Also disclosed are beverages and foods fortified preferably with amino acid chelated iron that do not impart objectionable color due to the inclusion of a ferric ion reducing agent such as ascorbic acid and/or an agent such as citric acid that is capable of preferentially complexing ferric ion in the presence of polyphenols or flavonoids that are typically present in these beverages or foods.