Treatment of plant protein extract by ion exchange to remove phytic acid and phytates

An improved method for separating phytic acid and phytates from plant protein involves contacting a clarified protein extract with an ion exchange resin, allowing phytic acid and/or phytates to bind with the ion exchange resin whereby the protein extract is depleted of phytic acid and/or phytates, and separating the protein extract which has been depleted of phytic acid and/or phytates from the ion exchange resin. In accordance with the method, only soluble proteins are contacted with the ion exchange resin. As a result, problems associated with insoluble protein accumulating on or in the ion exchange resin are eliminated, thereby providing an efficient, economical method of producing low-phytate protein isolates on a commercial scale.