A sulfonic acid salt composition includes compounds of formula (I), wherein n is 1 or 2, R1 is H or C1-C6 alkyl, R2 is COOM, SO3M or CH(OH)SO2—OM, each M is an equivalent of a multivalent metal, preferably magnesium, calcium, aluminum, zinc and combinations thereof. The molar ratio of a compound wherein n is 1 to a compound wherein n is 2 is below 0.1. The sulfonic acid salt composition is useful for color stabilization of non-living organic matter such as from lacquers, paints, powder-coatings, and polymers in particular water-absorbent polymers.