Allergies Health Center

Living With a Soy Allergy

If all you needed to do for a soy allergy was skip the soy sauce and tofu, it would be a breeze! But soybeans are a big part of processed foods too. Keep this soy food cheat sheet handy to protect yourself or your child from an allergic reaction.

Soy Foods to Stay Away From

• Edamame
• Miso
• Natto
• Soy sauce and Shoyu sauce
• Soy fiber, soy flour, soy grits, soy nuts, or soy sprouts
• Soy milk, soy yogurt, soy ice cream, or soy cheese
• Soy protein
• Tamari
• Tempeh
• Textured vegetable protein (TPV)
• Tofu

Foods That May Contain Soy

• Baked goods (breads, cookies, and crackers)
• Canned broth and soup
• Canned tuna and meat
• Cereals
• High-protein energy bars and snacks
• Infant formula
• Low-fat peanut butter
• Processed meats, like deli meats
• Vegetable oil
• Worcestershire sauce

Other Names That May Mean Soy Ingredients

• Glycine max
• Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP)
• Mono-diglyceride
• Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

3 Tips for Soy Allergies

• Always read labels. In the U.S., "soy" must be listed on the label of foods that have it in it.
• Be careful about eating at Asian restaurants. Even if you order a soy-free dish, you could still be exposed because soy is used so often in Asian cooking.
• Ask your doctor about soy oil and lecithin. Studies show that eating soy oil is safe for most people with soy allergies. Soy lecithin -- often used in chocolate candy, peanut butter, and margarine -- is also safe for many people. Your allergist can help you figure out if they are safe for you.