Notice
Ongoing construction may impact traffic around University Hospital, American Family Children's Hospital and Waisman Center. Please allow for additional travel time.Read more
Ongoing construction may impact traffic around University Hospital, American Family Children's Hospital and Waisman Center. Please allow for additional travel time.Read more
The only treatment for someone with food allergies is to avoid all of the food that causes an allergic reaction. Soy allergy is one of the top 9 food allergies in the United States.
The treatment for soy allergy is to remove all soy protein from the diet (except most can tolerate soy oil and soy lecithin, see more information below). You must read food labels with care, as soybeans are used in a large number of store-bought foods.
Products that contain soy are becoming more widespread. Soybeans are used in making flours, milks, nuts, and oils. The soybeans may be powdered, granulated, textured, and coarsely or finely ground.
US food companies are required to list ingredients by their common names for the top 8 allergenic foods. The top 9 allergens in the United States are eggs, milk, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish and sesame.
Read the labels of all store-bought food to avoid forms of soy protein.
Most people who are allergic to soy may safely eat soybean oil (not cold pressed, expeller processed or extruded oil) and soy lecithin. Ask your doctor or dietitian if you need to avoid these.
Label ingredients which may show the presence of soy protein.
Edamame
Meats that have “vegetable protein” or “texturized vegetable protein”
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Kinnoko flour
Kyodofu (freeze-dried tofu)
Miso
Natto
Okara (soy pulp)
Soy beans
Soy concentrate
Soy curds
Soy flour
Granules
Soy grits
Soy nuts
Soy milk
Soy sauce
Shoyu cause
Soy sprouts
Soy yogurt/cheese
Supro
Tamari
Tempeh
Teriyaki sauce
Texture soy protein
Textured vegetable protein (TVP)
Tofu
Yakidofu
Yuba
Label ingredients which may contain soy protein.
Vegetable broth
Vegetable starch
Vegetable gum
Asian foods
Cow’s milk
Coffee, tea
Fruit and vegetable juices
Carbonated drinks
Coffee substitutes, drink mixes, non-dairy creamers (check labels)
Soymilk
Milk substitutes that have soy
Breads, crackers, rolls, waffles, and pancakes that do not contain soy flour or soy products
Store bought baked goods that contain soybean flour or soy nuts (check labels on breads, breadings, crackers, rolls, stuffings, pancakes, waffles, etc)
Single grain hot cereals such as oatmeal or cream of wheat, cereals that do not contain soy
Processed breakfast cereals that contain soy (read labels carefully as many high protein cereals contain soy)
Homemade desserts: ice cream, pastries, puddings, pies, cakes, doughnuts, frostings, sauces, toppings and cookies all made without soy products
Many store bought desserts: cakes, dumplings, ice cream, ice cream cones, pies, puddings, pastries, frostings, doughnuts, sauces, cookies, creamy gelatin desserts and whipped toppings that contain soy
Butter, margarine, all vegetable oils, most vegetable sprays
Fats that contain soy protein (lecithin and oil are okay)
Fresh, cooked, canned, or dried fruits
Fruits in fritter, cobblers, and dumplings that contain soy
Fruits in sauces with soy
Plain meats
All cheeses except those noted
Plain eggs
All nuts except for soy nuts
Textured vegetable protein, meat extenders
Soy nuts
Store bought frozen meat patties, hamburger extenders, lunch meats, sausage, meat loaf and some processed cheeses that contain soy
Soy beans/edamame
Soy cheese, soy yogurt
Potatoes
Rice
Soy-free noodles and pastas
Macaroni, noodles, spaghetti, or other pasta that contains sauce
Store bought pasta in sauces
Fresh fruit and vegetables
Soy free salad dressings
Store bought salad dressings that contain soy
Pure spices and herbs
Mixed spices that contain soy, soy sauce
Homemade soups
Noodle soups made with soy-free noodles
Many store bought soups
Canned and dry mixes
Noodle soups
Miso soup
Soups that have tofu
All sugars, honey, jam, jelly and syrups
None
Fresh, frozen or canned vegetables prepared without soy
Soy sprouts
Store bought vegetables that are breaded or contain soy sauce
Canned or frozen Asian style vegetables
Canned and frozen vegetables in any kind of sauce that contains soy
Asian cuisine: Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Lao, and Korean often contains soy.
Hamburgers and veggie burgers served at some restaurants, fast food chains, and school lunch programs often contain soy protein.
Veggie burgers and meat substitutes, such as Boca®, Garden®, and Morningstar Farms® products contain soy protein.
Premade meatloaves and meats with stuffing may contain soy.
Pre-fried products, purchased in the store or served at a restaurant, are often fried in vegetable oils that have been used to fry foods that contain soybean flour or soybean protein.
Soybean flour is often mixed with other flours in store bought products.
Fortified texturized soybeans are often used in vegetarian dishes.
Tofu is made from soybean curd.
The Japanese product “miso” is a paste made from crushed soy, rice, barley, or plum, mixed with salt and water, and then fermented.
“Natto” is barley miso with ginger added.
Soy flour – use wheat, rice, oat, barley, or potato flour.
Soybean milk – use cow’s milk, rice or potato milk or any formula that does not contain soy.
Soy miso – use barley, plum or rice miso.
Soy sauce – use pure concentrated beef or chicken broth or flavored salts.
Avoid foods that cause a reaction.
Read the list even if you have had the product before. Ingredients may change.
When you travel bring along some of your own foods.
When you eat out, always ask restaurant staff about ingredients in food and how it was prepared. Ask about oils and the foods fried in them to avoid cross contamination.
Contact food companies if you are unsure of any ingredient on the label.
For infants, discuss the formula options with your doctor or dietitian. Do not assume products labeled “hypoallergenic” will not cause a reaction.
Food Allergy Research and Education
Kids with Food Allergies
http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org
If you are a UW Health patient and have more questions, please contact UW Health at the phone number listed below. You can also visit our website at www.uwhealth.org/nutrition
Nutrition clinics for UW Hospital and Clinics (UWHC) and American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH) can be reached at: (608) 890-5500.