The invention relates to a continuous thermal process for treating a flow comprising coarse food particles and a transport fluid, wherein the food particles, moving freely and with a volume percentage of 20-60% based on the total flow, are passed, by means of the transport fluid, into a heat-up section and subsequently through a hold-warm section, wherein in the heat-up section the transport fluid is heated, under turbulent flow, to a temperature T1 of 65-150.degree. C., after which the transport fluid in the hold-warm section is held at a temperature T2, with (T1-T2) being at most 20.degree. C. The invention further relates to food particles obtainable with the process according to the invention.