Oil-in-water emulsions, which are microbiologically stable upon storage, consisting of oil, water, thickeners, emulsifiers, and optional further ingredients, are obtained by subjecting at least one of these components to an osmotic and/or acid shock and to a temperature shock by heating said component(s) within 3 minutes, preferably within 1 minute, to 40°-55°C, preferably to 45°-50°C, and processing the thus treated component(s) with the remaining ingredients into a final emulsion, during which the temperature of the final emulsion up to and including the filling and hermetically sealing of the containers into which it is being packed, is maintained at 40°-55°C. Preferably the temperature shock is achieved by adding during the preparation of the final emut- sion a thickener suspension having a temperature of 70°-95°C to the remaining components which have been subjected to an osmotic and/or acid shock.