The invention aims at producing high-purity crystals of a hydroxycarboxylic acid represented by the following formula (1): in high yield. Provided are a method for crystallization of a compound (1) which comprises acidifying a mixture of a solution of an alkali salt of the compound (1) and an organic solvent, and a method for crystallization of compound (1) by mixing a solution of the compound (1) in a water-miscible good solvent with water, in which a slurry with a necessary suspension amount of the compound (1) for inhibiting oil formation and scaling is prepared in advance and then a main crystallization is carried out in the presence of said slurry.