Soy-Free Diet

Also indexed as:No Soy, Contains No Soy, Soybean-Free, Soybean Free, Does Not Contain Soy, Free of Soy, Non Soy, Non-Soy, W/O Soy, W/O Soys, With No Soy, With No Soys, Without Soy, Without Soys
Soy-Free Diet: Main Image

The Basics

The soy-free diet is eaten by people who are allergic to soy, one of the most common food allergies in infants, young children, and adults. These people are required to eliminate all foods that contain soy or soy products in order to avoid unpleasant allergic reactions. Most people who are allergic to soy are allergic to the protein in soy. Soy oil and soy lecithin pose little risk of causing an allergic reaction in most, although not all, soy-allergic people because processing removes almost all the protein.

  • Read labels carefully to determine if a soy product is included and avoid any food you’re not sure about until you are able to verify that it is soy-free.
  • Learn the technical and scientific terms for soy so you can recognize them on food labels: tofu, edamame, miso, tempeh, momodiglyceride, textured vegetable protein, soy protein isolate, and so forth.
  • Ask at restaurants and at others’ homes to be sure the food you are being served is soy-free.

Best bets: Look for nonsoy protein sources such as veggie burgers (be careful to read the label—not all of these will be soy-free), wheat gluten, seitan, and meat products, and cow’s milk, rice milk, and almond milk.

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The information presented by TraceGains is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2024.