Hidden Names for Soy
How can I
determine if a product contains soy or soy derivatives?
Always read the ingredient list carefully. Soy and soy derivatives can
often be present under different names, e.g., tofu. For other common ingredient
label names, refer to the list below.
What do I do if I
am not sure whether a product contains soy or soy derivatives?
If you have a soy allergy, do not eat or use the product. Get
ingredient information from the manufacturer.
Does product size
affect the likelihood of an allergic reaction?
It does not affect the likelihood of a reaction; however, the same
brand of product may be safe to consume for one product size but not another. This is because product
formulation may vary between different product sizes of the same product.
Avoiding soy and
soy derivatives
Make sure you read product labels carefully to avoid products that
contain soy and soy derivatives. Avoid food and products that do not have an ingredient list and read
labels every time you shop.
Manufacturers may occasionally change their recipes or use different ingredients for varieties of the
same brand. Refer to the following list before shopping:
Other names for
soy
Edamame
Kinako
Kouridofu
Miso
Mono-diglyceride
Natto
Nimame
Okara
Soya, soja, soybean, soyabeans
Soy protein (isolate/concentrate), vegetable protein
Tempeh
Textured soy flour (TSF), textured soy protein (TSP), textured vegetable
protein (TVP)
Tofu (soybean curds)
Yuba
Make sure you read product labels carefully to avoid products that
contain soy and soy derivatives. Avoid food and products that do not have an ingredient list and read
labels every time you shop.
Possible sources of
soy
Note: Avoid all food and products that contain soy in the ingredient
list, e.g.,
soy cheese.
Baby formulas
Baked goods and baking mixes, e.g., breads,
cookies, cake mixes, doughnuts, pancakes
Bean sprouts
Beverage mixes, e.g., hot chocolate, lemonade
Bread crumbs, cereals, crackers
Breaded foods, chili, pastas, stews, taco filling, tamales
Canned tuna/minced hams
Chewing gum
Cooking spray, margarine, vegetable shortening, vegetable oil
Diet drinks, imitation milk
Dressings, gravies, marinades
Frozen desserts
Hydrolyzed plant protein (HPP), hydrolyzed soy protein (HSP), hydrolyzed
vegetable protein (HVP)
Lecithin
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) (may contain hydrolyzed protein)
Processed and prepared meats, e.g., beef,
deli, pork, poultry
Sauces, e.g., soy, shoyu, tamari, teriyaki,
Worcestershire
Seafood-based products, fish
Seasoning, spices
Simulated fish and meat products, e.g., surimi
(imitation crab/lobster meat), simulated bacon bits
Snack foods, e.g., candy, chocolate, energy bars,
fudge, popcorn, potato chips
Soups, broths, soup mixes/stock
Spreads, dips, mayonnaise, peanut butter
Thickening agents
Vegetarian dishes
Non-food sources of
soy
Cosmetics, soaps
Craft materials
Glycerine
Milk substitutes for young animals
Pet food
Vitamins
Note: These lists are not complete and may change. Food and food
products purchased from other countries, through mail-order or the Internet, are not always produced
using the same manufacturing and labelling standards as in Canada.
Watch out for
allergen cross contamination!
Cross contamination is the transfer of an ingredient (food allergen)
to a product that does not normally have that ingredient in it. Through cross contamination, a food
that should not contain the allergen could become dangerous to eat for those who are
allergic.
Cross contamination can happen:
- during food
manufacturing through shared
production and packaging equipment;
- at retail through shared equipment, e.g.,
cheese and deli meats sliced on the same slicer; and through bulk display of food
products, e.g., bins of baked goods, bulk
nuts; and
- during food
preparation at home or in
restaurants through equipment, utensils and hands.