Abstract: A method for extracting sphingomyelin from a phospho-lipid-containing fat concentrate is described. The method comprises the following steps:A. dissolving the fat concentrate in a solvent mixture of an essentially polar organic solvent and an essentially non-polar organic solvent,B. withdrawing a phase consisting mainly of the non-polar organic solvent and phospholipids dissolved therein,C. adding to the phase withdrawn in step B an organic solvent of intermediate polarity at a temperature of about 13.degree.-25.degree. C., thereby forming a precipitate comprising mainly sphingomyelin, together with a viscous phase and a solvent phase, and thenD. withdrawing the precipitate and the viscous phase, and separating them from one another.