The Truth About Soy Allergies

 

Food allergies and intolerances affect millions of Americans. Nearly any food can trigger an allergic reaction, but there are nine common foods that cause the majority of reactions. While soybeans are among the nine most common allergens, they have the second lowest prevalence rate. Read on for the truth about soy allergies.

What are Food Allergies?

Food allergies occur when your immune system has a negative reaction to the protein in a food you’re allergic to. Foods that can trigger an allergic reaction are known as allergens. The symptoms of a food allergy range from hives and lip swelling to more severe, life-threatening symptoms, such as anaphylaxis. While there are some treatments and interventions for allergies, there isn’t a known cure. Most people manage their allergies by avoiding the foods they’re allergic to.

The Big Nine Allergens

While over 170 different foods have reportedly caused allergies, the majority of allergies are caused by the following nine foods:

Milk

Milk

Eggs

Eggs

Fish

Fish

Crustacean Shellfish

Crustacean shellfish

Tree Nuts

Tree nuts

Peanuts

Peanuts

Wheat

Wheat

Soybeans

Soybeans

Sesame

Sesame

These foods were identified by the FDA and labeled as “The Big Nine.” These allergens are responsible for 90% of all food allergies and allergic reactions in America. Foods or ingredients that contain one of these allergens require a label to alert consumers to their contents.

The Prevalence of Soy Allergies

The food industry uses soy protein frequently in products such as plant-based burgers, protein bars, fortified cereals and more. Thankfully, soy allergies have the second lowest prevalence rate, >despite soybeans being in The Big Nine allergens. Out of the nine major allergens, soy has one of the lowest prevalence. People are more likely to be allergic to milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, or wheat than they are to soy.

Soy Allergies in Babies and Kids

Soy allergies are rare among children and babies. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology estimates that less than one percent of all children have a soy allergy, and 70% will outgrow it by age 10.
Soybeans-in-Shell

Soy-Free Labeling

The term “soy-free” may be found on nutrition labels to alert consumers who have a soy allergy that the product does not contain soy ingredients. This disclaimer does not indicate or allude to the healthiness of a food product. When included in the diet, soy can be a quality source of protein and offer heart health benefits.

Soybean Oil Allergies

Soybean oil isn’t an allergen and doesn’t need to be labeled as such. This is because refined soybean oil only contains trace amounts of soy protein, which isn’t enough to trigger individuals with soy allergies.A study following seven soybean-sensitive volunteers tested their reactions to popular soybean oil brands. Each volunteer had a history of reacting to soy negatively, but none showed signs of being allergic to soybean oil after a skin puncture test and ingesting small amounts. Unless you have a soy allergy yourself, adding this power-packed ingredient to your dishes may help with heart health and more.

Visit our recipe page for inspiration or our Soy Farming page to see how soybeans are harvested across America.