General Information

  • Reactions to food are common and can be divided into two categories, those caused by food allergy and all other reactions
  • Food allergies develop when the body’s immune system has an abnormal reaction to one or more proteins in a food that can lead to serious allergic reactions
  • Other food reactions are not caused by the immune system but can cause unpleasant symptoms (examples include lactose intolerance, heartburn, food poisoning, and sensitivities)
  • Soy allergy is one of the most common food allergies
  • Soy comes from soybean which is a type of legume
  • Children with soy allergy are NOT at higher risk for other legume allergy (other legumes include beans, peas, lentils and peanut)

Soy Avoidance

  • Tell anyone with regular contact with you or your child about the allergy and avoidance of soy
  • Read labels every time you buy something. Manufacturers can change products at any time
  • Be aware of cross contamination (transfer of soy to a food that does not normally have soy as an ingredient)
  • Soyabeans can be made into:
    • Soy flour
    • Soy milk - Soy oil
    • Tofu
  • Food ingredients that indicate or may indicate the presence of soy:
    • Bean curd
    • Natto
    • Soybean curds
    • Dofu
    • Nimame
    • Soy protein
    • Edamame
    • Okara
    • Tempeh
    • Hydrolyzed soy protein
    • Soya
    • Textured soy flour
    • Kinako
    • Soja
    • Textured soy protein
    • Kouridofu
    • Soybean
    • Vegetable protein
    • Miso
    • Soyabeans
    • Yuba
  • Some foods that contain or may contain soy:
    • Baby formulas
    • Diet drinks
    • Peanut butter
    • Baked goods
    • Dressings / gravy
    • Processed meats
    • Bean sprouts
    • Frozen dessert / ice cream
    • Pudding
    • Beverage mixes
    • Hot dogs
    • Seasonings
    • Breaded foods
    • Hydrolyzed plant protein
    • Simulated meat / fish
    • Candy / candy bars
    • Hydrolyzed soy protein
    • Snack foods (candy, bars)
    • Canned tuna / minced ham
    • Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
    • Soy cheese
    • Cereal
    • Imitation milk
    • Soy sauce
    • Chewing gum
    • Lecithin (from soy)
    • Spreads / dips / mayo
    • Chili / pasta / stew / tamales
    • Margarine
    • Tofu
    • Cooking spray
    • Miso soup / soup broth
    • Vegetarian dishes
    • Crackers
    • Monosodium glutamate/MSG
    • Worcestersire / teriyaki sauce
    • Energy bars
    • Mono-diglyceride
    • Yogurt

Allergic Reactions

  • Symptoms often occur within minutes up to 2 hours of exposure to soy:
  • Outside Symptoms
    • Face: Redness, itchy eyes / nose, swelling
    • Skin: Itching, redness, hives, swelling

  • Inside Symptoms

    • Face: Swelling lips and tongue, itchy mouth
    • Throat: Itching, tightness, hoarse voice, cough
    • Lungs: Trouble breathing, shortness of breath
    • Stomach: Vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea
    • General: Dizzy, unsteady, drowsy, fainting

  • Not every reaction will look the same, a person can have different symptoms each time

  • Symptoms range from mild to life threatening, there is no way to predict if the reaction will be mild or severe
  • Anaphylaxis is a severe life threatening reaction with more than one body system affected (skin, breathing, stomach, general) and can occur WITHOUT skin symptoms such as hives

Treatment of Reactions

  • Antihistamines such as Benadryl will NOT stop severe reactions
  • An epinephrine auto injector such as Allerject or EpiPen MUST be available at all times
  • If you are visiting an area without access to a hospital you should have 2 auto injectors available
  • A medical identification device such a Medical Alert bracelet should be worn to outline the food allergy and that an epinephrine auto injector is carried
  • Give epinephrine in the outer thigh if there are any of the following symptoms (listed in the table on the previous page)
  • General symptoms
  • Severe outside symptoms
    • Any inside symptoms
    • If you are in doubt, give the epinephrine
  • After epinephrine is given
    • Lie down / lie your child down
    • Call local emergency service and tell them someone is having an allergic reaction
    • If the reaction continues or worsens, give a second dose of epinephrine in 5 - 15 minutes (there is only 1 dose of epinephrine in each auto injector, a second dose requires a new auto-injector)
    • Go to the nearest emergency room even if the symptoms are gone because the reaction can worsen or come back
    • Stay in the hospital for at least 4 - 6 hours of observationOutcomes for Soy Allergic Patients - The majority of people will outgrow the soy allergy
  • Repeat skin testing and blood work every 1 - 2 years will help determine if the allergy is outgrown
  • An oral food challenge (eating soy in small steps ONLY in the doctors office) will be offered if your doctor feels it is safe
  • Soy products should NEVER be tried outside of a doctors office to see if the allergy is outgrown

Additional information: www.anaphylaxis.ca or www.foodallergy.org