Disclosed are nutritional compositions comprising a plastic package and a nutritional liquid contained therein, wherein the nutritional liquid comprises beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) and at least one of fat, protein, and carbohydrate. It has been found that HMB provides a buffering effect in the nutritional liquid to thus minimize an acidic pH shift that is more prevalent in plastic packages, and thus help maintain product stability over time.
