The present invention provides an emulsifying agent that can suitably be used to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions and that is prepared from natural ingredients without the use of organic solvents or chemical synthesis.The invention provide a process of preparing such an emulsifying agent, said process comprising:• providing a plant-derived starting material containing:o reducing monosaccharideso phenolic compoundso free amino acidso pectin ando of water• heating the starting material to a temperature of at least 60°C for at least one minute to produce an emulsifying agentwherein at least 95% of the dry matter contained in the starting material is plant-derived and wherein the absorbance at 405 nm of the emulsifying agent is at least 0.05 units higher than that of the starting material.
