Abstract: A fortified dairy-based ready-to-drink beverage includes a dairy component containing aggregates of kappa-casein covalently bonded to beta-lactoglobulin and having a particle size of 5 to 10 ?m; and an amount of vitamins and minerals sufficient to provide fortification of the ready-to-drink beverage. The ready-to-drink beverage does not contain gum arabic; guar gum; xanthan gum; carrageenan; cellulose gum; an emulsifier; or a buffer. A method of making a fortified dairy-based ready-to-drink beverage includes forming a mixture by mixing a dairy component with an amount of vitamins and minerals sufficient to provide fortification of the ready-to-drink beverage; adjusting the pH of the mixture; homogenizing the pH-adjusted mixture; and subjecting the homogenized mixture to a heat treatment at 80-150° C. for 3 to 300 seconds. Neither the mixture nor the fortified dairy-based ready-to-drink beverage contains gum arabic; guar gum; xanthan gum; carrageenan; cellulose gum; an emulsifier; or a buffer.