Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing fatty acid monoesters and polyhydroxylic alcohols by means of transesterification between a polyhydroxylic alcohol and a compound that is selected from a fat of animal origin, a fat of vegetable origin, and a fatty acid methyl ester. The invention is characterised in that the transesterification reaction is performed in the presence of basic solid catalysts, said basic solids being oxides that are selected from mixed oxides of one or more monovalent metals and one or more trivalent metals, mixed oxides of one or more divalent metals and one or more trivalent metals, and mixtures of same.