What You Need To Know About Soy Allergy

soy beans and milk

Soy allergy is a very common type of food allergy that often begins at infancy. Though soy is not really an essential part of an American diet, many products include soy because of its high protein content, ease of production, and versatility.

Soy Allergy Management

Like any other food allergies, you can stay safe from an allergic reaction by avoiding foods that contain soybean or soy. Know the symptoms of an allergic attack and be familiar with using an EpiPen, AUVI-Q or EpiPen alternatives.

Foods That Contain Soy

Food with soy

The following are the popular foods that contain soy protein or based on soy, and there may be more that are not included on this list. We encourage you to always read the labels and consult your doctor before trying new foods for your own nutrition.

Tofu
Soy sauce
Soy milk
Some yogurt
Sauces like teriyaki, Worcestershire, and tamari
Soybean Paste
Breaded food
Bean sprout
Miso
Edamame
Alternatives to meat
Soya oil

Other foods that may contain soy are:

soy on a bowl

Bread
Cereals
Pasta
Salad dressing
Sauces
Infant formulas
Gravies
Seasoning and spices
Soups or broths
Meat fillers
Cooking spray
Margarine
Baking Mixes
Infant formulas

Non-Food Source of Soy:

cosmetics

Cosmetics
Soaps
Vitamins
Glycerine
Milk substitutes for young animals
Craft materials
Pet food

Other Names of Soy (or hint that a product or food may contain soy)

soy beans and rice

Natto
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP)
Glycine max
Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
Mono-diglyceride
Bean curd
Kinako
Nimame
Okara
Yuba

Symptoms of Soy Allergy Reaction

kid blowing his nose

These symptoms may vary from person to person so if you’re not sure about your condition, we suggest that you consult your doctor or an allergist that can help you get diagnosed.

Vomiting
Indigestion
Stomach cramps
Diarrhea
Wheezing
Weak pulse
Pale or blue coloring of the skin
Confusion
Hives
Shortness of breath
Difficulty breathing
Coughing
Tightness in throat
Swelling of tongue and/or lips
Dizziness

Soy is included in the top eight allergens together with fish, shellfish, peanut, tree nut, egg, and wheat. Though there are fewer reports of anaphylaxis due to soy, we really can’t conclude that it won’t happen. Please be extra careful with the food and product that you’ll consume more importantly when you plan on dining outside. If you can, try to avoid Asian restaurants or cuisines that mostly use soy products with their dishes. Another thing to consider when dining out is cross-contamination and no matter how hard you explain to the cook or chef, they may use the same utensils for cooking your soy-free dish.

Always bring your EAI (Epinephrine Auto-Injector) with you at all times, and be knowledgeable on how to use it and what to do in case of a medical emergency.