Treated surfactant composition containing a water-soluble surfactant and exhibiting improved taste, said composition comprising: a water-soluble surfactant selected from alkyl phosphate surfactants, alkyl phosphate ethoxylated surfactants, betaine surfactants, betaine ethoxylated surfactants, amine oxide surfactants, and mixtures thereof and water; wherein the composition further comprises: less than about 4%, by weight of the water-soluble surfactant, of total undesirable non-polar materials; less than about 2.5%, by weight of the water-soluble surfactant, of alcohols having a carbon chain length of greater than 4; less than about 1%, by weight of the water-soluble surfactant, of amine and amide materials; and less than about 1%, by weight of the water-soluble surfactant, undesirable non-polar materials selected from aldehydes, esters, ketones, and organic acids. Such compositions wherein the compositions have been subjected to liquid-liquid extraction processes.