In a transesterification (methanolysis) step, the glycerides are converted into fatty acid methyl esters and glycerol and the phytosterol-esters into free phytosterols and fatty acid methyl esters. After removal of the methanol/glycerol phase, the methyl esters are removed and the free phytosterols and tocopherols removed by distillation. The phytosterols are separated from the tocopherols by solvent crystallization and filtration using food grade solvent. The phytosterols are further purified by re-crystallisation, mainly to remove wax-esters.