Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing an improved sugar product comprising (a) providing a raw sugar solution having color of 50 to 1,000 Icumsa units and a concentration of 10 to 70 Brix; (b)(1) injecting ozone into the raw sugar solution while imparting agitation to the solution effective to reduce the size of said color-imparting particles into smaller particles, and then (b)(2) discontinuing said injection, but continuing said agitation for a period of time in excess of the duration of step (b)(1), wherein said smaller particles react with ozone, and (c) optionally repeating steps (b)(1) and (b)(2) at least once, wherein the solution is at no point subjected to a precipitation or carbonation step.