A low calcium sensitive (calcium stable) high acyl gellan gum is prepared forenhanced colloidal stability in beverages. The low calcium sensitive high acylgellen gum has superior suspension performance for colloidal stabilitycompared to other high aryl gellan gums. "h5 low calcium sensitive high acylgellan gum is prepared by adjusting the pH of a gellan fermentation broth(polymer solution) prior to pasteurization and reduAing the pasteurizationhold time compared to conventional pH levels and hold times.