DISCLOSED ARE NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING A PEROXIDE-TREATED ASEPTIC PACKAGE AND A NUTRITIONAL LIQUID CONTAINED THEREIN, WHEREIN THE NUTRITIONAL LIQUID COMPRISES BETA-HYDROXY-BETA-METHYLBUTYRATE (HMB) AND AT LEAST ONE OF FAT, CARBOHYDRATE, AND PROTEIN. THE HMB PROVIDES A BUFFERING EFFECT IN THE NUTRITIONAL LIQUID TO THUS MINIMIZE AN ACIDIC PH SHIFT THAT IS PREVALENT IN ASEPTICALLY STERILIZED PACKAGES, AND THUS HELPS MAINTAIN PRODUCT STABILITY OVER TIME.