An antifoaming agent, based on an oil-in-water emulsion in which the oil phase accounts for from 5-50% by weight of the emulsion, where the oil phase includes: (a) at least one selected from the group consisting of (a1) an alcohol of not less than 12 carbon atoms and (a2) a C1-C36-carboxylic acid, a distillation residue; (d) a component including (d1) a polyglyceryl ester and (d2) a C18-C30 alkyl behenate, wherein the component (d) accounts for 1-80% by weight of the oil phase of the emulsion.