Hola! Soy Lauren Today’s Food Allergy Fact is about, you guessed it… SOY.
When you think of soy, you might picture tofu, soy milk, or edamame. But the truth is: soy is sneaky.
Soy is used in so many packaged foods. From baked goods to protein bars, soy can pop up where you least expect it. Many people with soy allergies are surprised how easy it is to accidentally ingest soy, even when you think you’re avoiding it.
Because of this, even simple convenience foods deserve a second look; especially if you or someone in your family has a soy allergy.
3 surprising places soy might show up:
Baked goods and bread: Many breads, crackers, cakes, cookies, muffins and similar items use soy flour, soy protein, or soy-derived emulsifiers.
Energy or protein bars / snack foods: These often rely on soy protein or soy isolates to boost protein content, or use soy-derived emulsifiers to hold ingredients together.
Processed meats, canned broths or soups: Believe it or not, soy can also be used as a filler, flavor enhancer, or binding agent in things like soups, canned goods, deli meats or hot dogs.
2 important Facts About Soy: A soy allergy is relatively uncommon. In the U.S., around 0.4% of children are estimated to be allergic to soy.
Many children outgrow their soy allergy as they get older. According to a long-term study, about 25% of children outgrow their soy allergy by age 4, 45% by age 6, and approximately 69% by age 10.
Because soy shows up so broadly in packaged foods, often in unexpected places, that small percentage still translates to a real risk for anyone with a soy allergy.
How 2 Not Die:
* If you avoid soy, reading ingredient labels carefully is a must. Look out for words like “soy,” “soy flour,” “soy protein,” “hydrolyzed vegetable protein,” “soy lecithin,” etc.
* Even foods that don’t look “soy-based” , like a chocolate bar, a protein bar, or a loaf of bread, may contain soy.
* For parents: if your child has a soy allergy, be extra careful with processed foods, bread, snack bars, soups, canned foods, and any packaged or convenience items.
To all of my soy-allergy friends, I hope this post is helpful. And for those that are reading, doing the research for a recently diagnosed loved one or family member- thank you. We all need that one person that cares.
Have a beautiful day, friends! Come back tomorrow for the next day in the daily food allergy facts series ❤
Lauren
(If you enjoyed this post, give me a follow on my advocacy blog! how2notdie.com)
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