The present invention relates to a method of making a sterilized milk composition containing native gellan gum, wherein the native gellan gum has been pre-treated with a denaturing agent. The method comprises the step of pre-treating the native gellan gum with a denaturing agent such as a common oxidative agent or an alkaline caustic agent prior to mixing and sterilizing the native gellan in milk. Preferably, treatment with the denaturing agent results in reduction of para-cresol levels in the sterilized native gellan/milk composition to below 25 ppb after 12 months of storage, and most preferably, to levels where para-cresol is undetectable by taste. The present invention further relates to sterilized milk compositions and milk-based gellan food products.