The present invention is to a composition made from a polyester produced by the acid or ester polyester process, a cobalt salt and a base, preferably an alkaline metal base. The composition can be made by blending a cobalt salt with a polyester which has been polymerized in the presence a alkaline metal ion derived from a basic alkaline metal compound, e.g. alkaline metal base or basic alkaline metal salt. The composition may optionally comprise an ionic compatibilizer, which may further be blended with a partially aromatic polyamide. This blend can be processed into a container having both active and passive oxygen barrier with an improved color and clarity than that achieved by cobalt alone. The use of the cobalt salt in combination with the base can also be used to improve the color of recycled polyester during processing.