PURPOSE: A mixture of a specific ferrous salt, a water-soluble polysaccharide and an organic acid is irradiated with ultraviolet rays in the presence of water to prepare an iron salt composition which is optically stable, excellent in deodorization, microbicidal and anticorrosive actions can be used in freshness maintenance.

CONSTITUTION: 3W5wt% of a ferrous such as ferrous sulfate, more than 0.5wt% of a water-soluble polysaccharide such as starch or amylose and 0.05W0.1wt% of tartaric acid or a mixture thereof with benzoic acid are dissolved so that the pH becomes 2W3. The aqueous solution is kept at 40W80°C and irradiated with ultraviolet rays of 430W480nm wavelength for more than 10hr. The resultant solution is colorless and clear and does not develop color, even when it is stood in the dark. Further, the solution does not change its color, when it is sprayed and gives an iron salt composition excellent in deodorization, freshness maintenance, microbicidal and anticorrosive actions.