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Soy allergy is the top 6 most common food allergy among children in the Philippines. It is due to the body’s abnormal reaction to soy proteins especially in some children with an immature digestive system or with underlying disease. Soy allergy symptoms include:
- Skin: Rashes, Swelling, Redness, Itchiness
- Digestive System: Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Abdominal pain
- Respiratory: Runny nose, Asthma, Tightening of the Throat
- Anaphylactic Shock: Difficulty breathing, Sudden drop in blood pressure, Weak pulse, Rashes, Nausea and Vomiting (Note: This is a life-threatening allergic reaction)
It is important to diagnose true soy allergy with a physician because of its potential life-threatening allergic reactions and to avoid unnecessary food restriction and added cost for alternative ingredients. The first line management for a true soy allergy is dietary avoidance of all soy containing food items, hidden soy ingredients, and cross-reactive foods such as the following:
Foods To Avoid
- Soy and Soy Products: Soymilk, Taho, Tokwa, Tofu, Soy Flour, Soy Granules, Soy grits, Soy lecithin, Soy nuts, Soy sauce, Teriyaki sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Soy oil
- Meats with vegetable protein, hydrolyzed vegetable protein or imitation meats
- Some non-dairy creamers
- Shortenings made with soy oil
- Some salad dressings and mayonnaise
- Commercial vegetarian products
- Fermented soybean pastes
- Miso
- Natto
- Tempeh
Cross-reactive foods which may also trigger soy allergy (be careful with these ingredients)
- Legumes: Navy beans, Kidney Beans, String beans, Pinto beans
- Black eyed and green peas
- Chickpeas
- Lentils
- Carob
- Licorice
- Peanuts
References:
Hill, D. J., Hosking, C. S., Zhie, C. Y., Leung, R., Baratwidjaja, K., Iikura, Y., ... & Hsieh, K. H. (1997). The frequency of food allergy in Australia and Asia. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, 4(1-2), 101-110.
Cordle, C. T. (2004). Soy protein allergy: incidence and relative severity. The Journal of nutrition, 134(5), 1213S-1219S.
Jamorabo-Ruiz, A., Serrano-Claudio, V. & Exevea-de Castro, Esperanza (2011). Medical Nutrition Therapy for Filipinos, 6th ed. Manila: Merriam & Webster Bookstore, Inc.
