Soybeans and products thereof

Soybeans and products thereof

Soybeans and products thereof, except:

(a) fully refined soybean oil and fat
(b) natural mixed tocopherols (E306), natural D-alpha tocopherol, natural D-alpha tocopherol acetate, and natural D-alpha tocopherol succinate from soybean sources
(c) vegetable oils derived phytosterols and phytosterol esters from soybean sources
(d) plant stanol ester produced from vegetable oil sterols from soybean sources

Around 0.3 per cent of the European population is allergic to soya. Usually ingested in 'hidden' form – for example, as soya oil in margarine and cooking fats or as lecithin (E322), a soya oil product found in sweets. Soya protein is also added to many processed foods such as sausages. But soya protein, whether isolated or in a soya product, can also trigger allergies.

A soya allergy can be caused not only by ingesting soya as food but also by breathing in dust containing soya particles. Food industry workers who handle or process soya beans may breathe in large quantities of the dust and develop allergic reactions in the airways. In the baking industry, soya flour dust can provoke these respiratory allergies.

Symptoms

A soya allergy can cause mild or severe reactions in various organs. Symptoms range from what is called oral allergy syndrome, in which the mucosa in the mouth and throat start to tingle or swell a few minutes to hours after exposure, to anaphylactic shock accompanied by difficulty breathing and circulatory collapse. The risk of anaphylactic shock appears to increase if the individual quickly consumes large quantities of a protein-rich, minimally processed soya product – for example, a shake made with a soya drink or soya protein powder.

The digestive system can also be affected, resulting in abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhoea. The skin may also develop allergic reactions. Apart from itchiness, redness and hives, a soya allergy can also trigger or worsen an eczema flare-up. In still other cases, the airways can be affected, with reactions ranging from allergic rhinitis to asthma symptoms.