A fortified dairy-based ready-to-drink beverage includes a dairy componentcontaining aggregates of kappa-caseincovalently bonded to beta-lactoglobulin and having a particle size of 5 to 10µm； and an amount of vitamins and minerals sufficient toprovide fortification of the ready-to-drink beverage. The ready-to-drinkbeverage does not contain gum arabic； guar gum； xanthan gum；carrageenan； cellulose gum； an emulsifier； or a buffer. A method of making afortified dairy-based ready-to-drink beverage includesforming a mixture by mixing a dairy component with an amount of vitamins andminerals sufficient to provide fortification of theready-to-drink beverage； adjusting the pH of the mixture； homogenizing the pH-adjusted mixture； and subjecting the homogenized mixture toa heat treatment at 80-150° C for 3 to 300 seconds. Neither the mixturenor the fortified dairy- based ready-to-drink beverage containsgum arabic； guar gum； xanthan gum； carrageenan； cellulose gum； an emulsifier；or a buffer.
