There is provided use of a pectin composition to prepare an aqueous composition having high yield stress characteristics without substantial gelation, wherein the pectin composition comprises at least a population of pectin that is calcium sensitive; wherein the pectin composition is capable of imparting high yield stress characteristics to an aqueous composition without causing substantial gelatin of the aqueous composition. There is also provided a standardised acidic aqueous composition comprising a deesterified pectin dissolved in water wherein the pH of the aqueous solution is less than 6, and wherein the deesterified pectin has a degree of esterification from about 50-60% and has a calcium fraction greater than 15; and wherein the amount of the deesterified pectin in the aqueous solution is from about 0.1 to 0.5%.