Soy Allergy and Foods To Avoid
86Sources of Soy and Label Issues
Soy is one of the top 8 food allergens in the world.
For those of us who are allergic to soy, reactions can range from mild (hives, canker sores, itching) to moderate (abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, wheezing) to severe (dizziness, drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, anaphylaxis and death).
My soy allergy is considered moderate to severe. I do not have an anaphylactic reaction, however, if I consume soy I can suffer from excruciating abdominal pain, diarrhea, uncontrollable vomiting (that has caused me to be hospitalized), chest pain, drop in blood pressure, rhinitis and itching.
How severe my reaction is, is determined by the type of soy I ingest and the amount.
One of the biggest issues in North America regarding a soy allergy is that soy is added to almost every food product on the market. In other countries in the world the use of soy as an additive and filler is not as widespread.
Why Is Soy Added to So Many Foods in North America?
The US government subsidized soy production. Farmers wishing to make more money switched to growing soy. The more soy that was produced the lower the price became. As the price of soy dropped manufacturers decided it was in their best interest to replace more expensive ingredients with the cheaper soy counterpart. Now almost every manufactured food contains a soy derived ingredient.
Case in point: 98% of bread related products contain soy and many varieties of herbal tea contain soy as a filler.
Case in point: manufacturers now remove expensive peanut oil from peanut butter and replace it with vegetable oil (a cheap blend that contains soy oil). They then sell the peanut oil separately to make more money.
Labelling
This overuse of soy wouldn't be as much of an issue for allergy sufferers if products that contained soy were labelled clearly, but they are not.
There are suppose to be label laws regarding the top 8 food allergens. The truth is though, when it comes to soy, a product must contain a certain amount or a certain type in order for the allergy warning to be listed.
The theory behind this is that a tiny percentage of soy won't cause that much of a problem and so it doesn't need to be labelled clearly. This is ridiculous!
While there are not as many people who go into anaphylactic shock from a soy allergy as there are from a peanut allergy, it still happens and this nonchalant attitude about labelling needs to stop.
Case in point: soy protein is used as a binding agent for natural flavors. On the label manufacturers simply list 'natural flavor' as an ingredient. In this case they are not required to add the 'contains soy' allergy warning or even list 'soy' in brackets after the ingredient.
(This nasty little trick got me just last week. I was tired and hungry after a long day and I grabbed a packet of 'all natural fruit gummies' while running errands in order to boost my blood sugar. They were suppose to contain only fruit juices and gelatin, however, at the bottom of the label in small writing was 'natural flavor'. I missed it and then spent the evening in the fetal position with excruciating abdominal pain. The diarrhea followed the next day.)
Following is a list of ingredients that are derived from soy:
Akara
Boullion
Edamame
Emulsifiers (if unspecified)
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein or Hydrolyzed Protein (HVP)
Isoflavones
Isolated Soy Protein
Isolates
Kinako
Kouridofu
Lecithin
Miso
Mono and Diglycerides
Mono Sodium Glutamates (MSG)
Natto
Natural, Organic or Artificial Flavors (if the flavor isn't listed in brackets beside it then it's most likely soy-based)
Olean
Shoyu Sauce
Soja
Soy (anything with this term included)
Soybeans
Soy Oil (Crisco)
Soy Protein Concentrate
Tamari
Tempeh
Teriyaki
Textured Soy Flour (TSF)
Textured Soy Protein (TSP)
Textured Plant Protein (TVP)
Tofu
Tofutti
Unspecified Sprouts
Vegetable Broth
Vegetable Gum
Vegetable Paste
Vegetable Protein
Vegetable Oil
Vegetable Shortening
Vegetable Starch
Vitamin E
Yuba
As you can see the list is extensive!
And soy is not only added to food products but also soaps, cleaning products, medicines (always tell the pharmacist and doctor you have a soy allergy), shampoos, moisturizers, printing ink and other products used on a daily basis.
Always check the label each time you buy something.
Also, people with soy allergies can be sensitive or allergic to other legumes as well. Be careful with chick peas, peanuts, lentils, peas, beans and other legumes until you know it is safe to eat them. (I found I have an intolerance to chick peas and must avoid them too.)
A Word About Soy Oil
In articles on respected medical sites, in doctor offices and health expert forums it is consistently stated that soy oil is safe for people with a soy allergy. They say this because soy oil does not contain the soy protein.
THIS INFORMATION IS WRONG AND DANGEROUS!
While it is true that some people with a soy allergy do not react to soy oil, many of us do. My reaction to soy oil is SEVERE. It will cause me to vomit so much that my potassium levels bottom out and I end up in hospital. Other people with anaphylactic reactions to soy have almost died from exposure to soy oil.
I also react to lecithin (made from soy), which is another ingredient claimed to be safe for soy allergy sufferers.
Eating Out
For anyone with a food allergy eating out can be difficult. Luckily I have noticed a trend in restaurants recently that is making it easier for the soy allergic. A lot of places have switched to using canola oil, olive oil or butter in their kitchens.
ALWAYS ASK WHAT KIND OF OIL IS USED IN THE KITCHEN!
This is important as you may choose a dish that is seemingly soy free and have a reaction because they use generic vegetable oil to cook with.
Always inform your waiter, the manager or the chef about your allergy. If they seem to not understand or take it seriously then find another place to eat. Also make sure to tell them that you can't eat soy or vegetable oil. The general public is not aware that soy is a major ingredient in vegetable oil.
I reside in Vancouver (Canada) and am lucky as most people in the city are health conscious and very aware of allergies. The waiters take the time to find out what dishes are safe and what dishes are not. As such I have a long list of restaurants here that I can safely dine in.
When I travel I have to be more careful.
If you are traveling to a country with a foreign language always carry a translated allergy alert card that you can show to wait staff. If the country you're traveling in has two major languages include both on the card. This should always be a part of your pre-trip planning. By using this strategy I have been able to travel extensively without falling ill.
Airlines and Allergies
The biggest difficulty to travel for people with a soy allergy are the airlines. No airline currently offers soy-free meals. It is one of the top 8 allergens, with many doctors now placing it in the top 4, and yet you cannot order a soy-free meal.
They have dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, egg-free, meat-free, seafood-free but not soy-free!
This is extremely frustrating. They will cater to vegetarians whose food requirements are voluntary, yet they do not provide an option for people who have an allergy that could be fatal. It doesn't make sense.
A lot of the countries I travel to require me to be on a plane for 14+ hours straight. It is very difficult (especially with new carry-on restrictions) to bring enough food for flights of this duration. The only meal I can feel safe ordering on a plane is the fruit platter. This is not enough food for a long haul flight.
Airlines need to provide a soy-free option!
Soy-Free Products in Canada
While it is frustrating trying to find products that do not contain soy; there are companies who voluntarily list every ingredient and source on the label, including any 'trace amount issues'. To these companies I salute you!
In British Columbia here are some companies that make finding soy-free products easier:
Capers Community Market (lists all ingredients in their home-baked products)
A great source for bread, cookies, pies, chips, soft drink and all the treats that make life worth living.
Uprising Breads Bakery
They use only basic ingredients, list all ingredients and use mostly canola oil in their products. They produce all varieties of bread, hamburger buns, raisin bread and other products.
Spectrum
Makers of the only soy-free mayonnaise on the market. They provide a wide variety of products and list detailed ingredients and allergy information.
Thai Away Home
Provides tasty pre-packaged or take-away Thai food. Pre-packaged foods list all ingredients. Canola oil is used for their curries. (They do prepare meals with soy and tofu so always check ingredients.)
Remember to always check the label or ask if food contains soy before eating. If you have severe contact allergies be especially careful and always carry your Epi-pen.
Happy soy free living!
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Comments
Bob Ewing: Thanks for stopping by. My mistake with the fruit gummies the other day inspired me to inform others of the issues with soy. Hope it helps!
Thanks for a great article on soy allergy. Your well-researched and anecdotal words really drive the important points home, whether one's allergy is to soy, wheat, peanuts, shellfish, or anything else. The important points being, read ingredients carefully (and become adept at reading between the lines, so to speak), plan ahead for dinners out, question restaurants about their ingredients, and know the symptoms of your allergy (I'm sure you know that many food allergy sufferers don't realize the causes of their symptoms for a long time).
I had to comment on your Hub for another reason, one of those twists of fate, and I guess a bit of an irony here...my daughter was deathly ill as an infant with persistent diarrhea and vomiting, and the subsequent failure to gain weight. Fortunately, her doctor was able to identify these symptoms as a cow milk allergy, switched her to a soy-based formula, and she thrived. The same allergy appeared in my grandmother's infant sister, back in 1894...baby Dusty Rose died because she could not tolerate milk.
There are curses and blessings with soy (and cow milk, and every other food). Your Hub should be a must-read for every mother and father.
Best regards, Sally
Sally's Trove: Wow, thank you for your kind words! If this article helps anyone else with allergies that's what's important to me. And you're right about it taking a long time to understand what your sypmtoms are. Mine are obvious to me now but for years it baffled me and the doctors.
Glad to hear your daughter's allergy was caught and she thrived afterward. :D
My daughter has had similar symptoms for almost half a year now. Her first "Dr" had her keep a spreadsheet of what she ate etc. and she diagnosed herself. Her internest has done a scope on her stomach and sm. intestines and then a sonigram of gallbladder. I think her stress over feeling so bad and having to work and take care of three school age children is adding to the problem. It has even been suggested that it's all in her head. Thanks for a full description of your symptoms and the extensive list of resources.
Carolyn Gibbons: Thank you for your comments. I hope your daughter gets the help she needs. Sometimes it's not easy to get Dr's to truly listen. You have to be your own best advocate. Good luck with it all. :)
That's long list! Glad I'm not allergic to soy, but I'll keep this hub in mind if I run across the path of someone who is allergic to it.
Cheers!
Chef Jeff T.
Chef Jeff: Thanks for stopping by. Hope the list is helpful. :)
i wish i would have found this page 8 months ago, my son was liven in hell and the doctors keep saying there was nothing wrong. after many long trips to UofM we now know, but now in trying to feed him and help the school feed him i am glad you have the list i have been looking for
Thank you for this information Rfox its invaluable.:)
mmb: I feel your pain! It takes a long time sometimes for Dr's to know exactly what's going on. Glad to hear he's doing better now.
David R.: Thanks for your comments! Hope the info helps.
Thank you for this great and informative information. I for one am very inquisitive about what I consume, but my reason is more for avoiding Genetically Modified Foods. With more people developing allergies, and other digestive problems, I would pause when it comes to suggesting known, and unknown sauces of GMO foods which ultimately could be the true sauce of most good allergens.
This is great information...thank you. My 5 year old son is allergic to soy and rye. Rye is easy to avoid, but soy is not! It is in practically everything. We find that the longer the ingredient list, the more likely it is that it contains soy. I share the same frustrations with labeling (and lack there of) of soy ingredients. I plan to submit letters to lawmakers and the FDA because this is a danger to people who are allergic to soy. We have made the decision that we just can't eat out anymore. There is one local market/shop that is careful with allergens and is willing to work with us. Thanks for sharing your research. I hope things get easier for you!
I'm gald that I found this page! It's so hard to avoid soy but I didn't know alot of the things on the list. I am allergic to soy, dairy and have Celiac. I'm very careful and know what to avoid for the latter but now know why I am still having some issues. Thank you!
Bob Ewing says:
2 years ago
solid information, well done.