Allergy diet - soy free

Aim

To provide a diet that excludes all foods containing soy protein.

Characteristics

Avoids all foods with soy ingredients, including soybeans, tofu, soy sauce, soy milk, soy yoghurt and soy cheese. Research indicates that most individuals allergic to soy can safely eat soy lecithin (E322) and soybean oil. However, some individuals with soy allergy are confused and concerned about the potential presence of soy due to Australian labelling legislation requirement to declare that these ingredients are derived from soy. Other individuals choose to avoid soy due to other concerns, where the removal of the protein fraction does not address their reasons for excluding soy from their diet. For these reasons a decision was made to apply a strict exclusion approach to avoiding all soy or soy derived ingredients.

Indications

Soy allergy or patients who wish to exclude all sources of soy from their diet.

Nutritional adequacy

Nutritionally adequate.

Precautions

It is not possible to provide a full list of all permitted commercial products – the following are general guidelines only. Soy-based ingredients (e.g. flour) are found extensively in prepared and commercial products, especially breads, biscuits, cereals, bakery items, sauces, soups and condiments.

The following ingredients indicate the likely presence of soy: bean curd, edamame, hydrolysed plant protein, hydrolysed vegetable protein, miso, natto, okara, soy protein isolate, tamari, tempeh, textured vegetable protein (TVP) and yuba. Stock and flavourings may have soy ingredients. Soy lecithin (E322) may be used for a number of functions including as an emulsifier, wetting agent and stabiliser.

All packaged food with soy ingredients must carry a mandatory warning statement under Standard 1.2.3 of the Food Standards Code. Products with advisory statements that they may contain soy are not suitable.

Paediatrics

Suitable for use in paediatrics when combined with an age-appropriate diet.

Specific menu planning guidelines

	Allowed	Not allowed
Hot main dishes	Plain cooked beef, lamb, pork, poultry, fish, eggs and legumes other than soybeans, free of soy-containing additives	Soybeans, tofu and tempeh and textured vegetable protein (TVP), hydrolysed vegetable protein (HVP) Any products containing soy ingredients such as soy flour, e.g. sausages, pizzas, pies and pastries
Sauces, gravies	All others	Soy sauce, tamari and any sauces with soy ingredients, e.g. teriyaki sauce, ketjap manis
Starchy vegetables / pasta / rice	All others	Pasta or noodles with soy flour as an ingredient
Vegetables	All others	Soybeans, soybean sprouts
Soups	Soups made from soy free ingredients	Most commercial soups contain soy-based ingredients
Sandwiches	Sandwiches made with soy-free ingredients including soy free bread, soy free margarine and soy free butter	Sandwiches made with soy-containing ingredients Note: Most breads contain soy flour. Margarine may contain soy lecithin
Salads, dressings	Plain roasted meat, cheese, egg, tuna, salmon, salad vegetables Dressings, if soy free	Pasta or other salads containing soy ingredients Mustard, pickles, dressings and mayonnaise containing soy Check all other ingredients (e.g. roasted meats) for soy-containing ingredients including soy lecithin
Breads, cereals	Soy-free bread only Soy-free commercial breakfast cereals	Most breads are made with a soy starter and many contain soy flour Many commercial breakfast cereals contain soy and will need to be checked
Spreads	Butter, jam, honey, peanut butter, or margarine that does not contain soy derived lecithin	Any soy-containing spreads and spreads containing soy lecithin.
Hot breakfast choices	Eggs All others that exclude soy containing ingredients	Many hot breakfast dishes may have soy containing ingredients and will need to be checked. E.g., sausages, tinned spaghetti, pancakes, baked beans
Fruit	All fruit	-
Yoghurt	Dairy and other non-soy yoghurts, e.g. coconut or almond yoghurt	Soy yoghurts
Desserts	Custard, creamy rice, jelly, ice-cream, sago or tapioca without soy ingredients Other desserts made without soy containing ingredients	Any dessert containing soy flour, soy lecithin or other soy ingredients. Many commercial desserts may have soy containing ingredients and will need to be checked
Milk and cheese	All others, e.g. cow, goat, rice or oat milk or cheese derived from these	Soy milk and soy cheese
Beverages	All others	Any soy-based beverages
Biscuits	All others	Any biscuits containing soy flour, soy lecithin or other soy ingredients
Miscellaneous	Cream, salt, pepper, wine vinegar, nuts and seeds Herbs and spices Honey, jam, marmalade and preserves Commercial supplements without soy containing ingredients Commercial thickened fluid without soy containing ingredients	Tamari, miso Commercial sauces may contain soy and so will need to be checked, e.g. Worcestershire sauce Many commercial supplements, baby formula, and thickened fluid products may have soy containing ingredients and will need to be checked

References

1. Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. Dietary Guide for Food Allergy – Soy Allergy. [accessed 22 October 2019]
2. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (USA). Nutrition Care Manual. Online. [accessed 23 October 2019] Soy Allergy Nutrition Therapy. (Online subscription required.)
3. Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Food allergies. [accessed 06 June 2023] January 2019
4. The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. Allergy – Soy Allergy. [accessed 22 October 2019]
5. Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia. Food Allergen – Soy. [accessed 22 October 2019]; January 2017