If you are trying to avoid soy in all forms including soybean oil, it is very difficult.
Unfortunately, for whatever reason, most restaurants do not list what oil they fry in. That information usually requires a phone call or a visit.
We can now say fairly confidently that if a restaurant has a fryer, most likely it is filled with soybean oil. That will eliminate all fries and fried chicken as well as a lot of appetizers like fried mushrooms, onion rings, mozzarella sticks and sauerkraut balls.
Almost all breads contains soybean oil (in both restaurants and grocery stores). Tortillas and taco shells also generally contain soybean oil.
Because almost all breads contain soybean oil, that includes most breadings also. So even if you’re lucky and a local restaurant fries in not-soybean-oil, breaded items like mozzarella sticks and onion rings will most likely have soy in them.
For the most part, Processed American Cheese is made with soybean oil, which seems to include most cheese in most restaurants. “Real” cheese like Swiss, Colby, and Cheddar, generally do not contain soy.
Most chocolate is produced with soy lecithin so that eliminates most candy bars and cookies with chocolate in them. Tragically even the most expensive chocolate and chocolate from foreign countries all seem to use soy lecithin any more. Some of the really fancy ones will use palm oil AND soy lecithin.
If it’s creamy or gooey, it’s probably got soy in it. Gooey usually has hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated soybean oil in it (think Oreos and frosting, and the filling in Twinkies). If it’s creamy it probably has soybean oil in it: (think salad dressings and mayonnaise, and therefore potato salad and macaroni salad, dips and sauces).
We also know that you’re never going to find out of there’s soy bean oil in restaurant or grocery food by looking at the allergen lists because they don’t consider soybean oil to be made from soybeans.
The presence of soy in the fries, bread, sauces, and cheese pretty much eliminates all of the standard fare at most fast food restaurants.
Fortunately, our son does not appear to have an issue with cross contamination with soy, so as long as we avoid it as much as possible, he seems to be OK.
If you are extremely sensitive to soy to the point that cross contamination to soy is a problem, I’d recommend staying out of all restaurants. Our allergy doctor told us of a lady who was highly allergic to soy and had a reaction because somebody used tongs on her bread that were used with bread that had soy based margarine on the bread. If you’re this sensitive, being in an any restaurant in this day and age is probably like playing Russian roulette.
Here’s a list that we’re trying to build of all of the hidden soy in restaurants.
My wonderful boss found this awesome page for me! For about 15 years, I have called every restaurant I eat at ahead of time and asked ‘can you tell me if there is any soybean oil in the blend of your cooking/fryer oil?’ – the question has been fine-tuned quite a bit. I’ve learned that I am also garlic-sensitive – so this appears to have something to do with hormones? Garlic and soy are ‘estrogenic’ foods? No endocrinologist I have ever seen has known what to do with me.
Anyhoo, I have endometriosis, ‘estrogen dominance’, intermittent double SIBO (methane and hydrogen-dominant kinds, both), chronic constipation, chronic bladder pain, and who knows what else… The endo got really bad after an ovarian cyst ruptured into my abdomen – I lost like 42% of my blood volume into my gut and have had wild pain since then all over my middle. I think I must always have been sensitive though – just other coincidental stuff gets enflamed/messed up when I accidentally consume soy / really estrogenic stuff.
In terms of pathology… I also was a vegan for a long time and may have consumed too much of a good thing… Would love to know how others wound up here / what your symptoms and experiences have been like.
I guess I would say I may be a little bit luckier than others that my allergy isn’t as strong, but it’s pretty intense. Lethicin and oil don’t bother me as bad and can tolerate small amounts of soysauce. No garbanzo, or chickpeas (yeah humus is out) no pinto beans. They are close soy cousins. Found out the hard way eating garbanzo and chickpeas twice a day for a week at a youth camp. I itched for a month it felt like. What really makes me ill is if I get alot of Soyflour/protien or their cousins I mentioned. So no canned chili dog sauce or Campbells soups for me anymore. Good thing I’m an avid baker and cook. Made all my own soups and chilidog sauce. No diet bars and shakes for me either.
I am soooooooo angry at McDonalds with their lies for years and deliberately making people ill on purpose in broad daylight just to make a buck. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg(shakes head in Campbell’s direction again)
Try finding a soy less mayonnaise. Sir Kensington is one but if made with Canola it still may have it
I have found that Lay’s potato chip company is for the most part soy free. It is the only brand of potato chips that I can eat. Most of their different varieties and flavors including tortilla chips are soy free or very little soy. I have come to the conclusion that if I just stick to cooking my own food and washing all the fruits and veggies with warm soapy water and give them a good rinse, I am fine. This year I have made it a goal to grow as many of my own veggies and spices in my own raised “flower beds” to avoid soy all together. Another step I take while going out is take my own food to eating establishments and asking them to heat it up for me if it needs it. If they tell me they can’t do that, I simply remind them that they can not discriminate by law and I have a legit reason to be doing it. I ask them if they can guarantee that they will not make me sick with soy they I will order and eat their food. I carry a notebook with me and have them sign it stating they can guarantee it. Most just take my food and pop it in the microwave for me so I can eat with my friends and relatives as we enjoy their place of business. LOL
Soybean oil wrecks the gut and causes inflammation! https://www.mikeroberto.com/2019/soybean-oil-gut-microbiome/comment-page-1?unapproved=337835&moderation-hash=ff122c2bf25476fb562d14d0cdd8016b#comment-337835
Dave’s killer bread and Martin potato bread has NO SOY ! It is all my girl friend can eat , so I’m checking out Marcos Pizza to see if she can have it . NOW give me some feed back .
Dave’s killer bread does seem to have soy. I think there’s hidden soy in most canola oil.
That could explain why I sometimes react to canola oil. 😡 Thank you for pointing that out, Tarryn.
I developed soy allergy many years ago. When I told the hospital of this allergy they refused to feed me, I lost over forty lbs. while I was in for heart attack. What do I eat? The agriculture department is encouraging farmers to grow soy to sell to China. When tariffs were instituted stock in soy went up and price of soy oil & flour tanked making it cheap for American users to bake with it. When in most of Europe they don’t use soy products.
I found only thing safe and healthy for me is the keto-carnivore diet. Been this way of living for 8 years now and I have never been healthier, I am 66, I used to be on 8 meds for a variety of things. Developed my allergy to soy after being vegan for 2 years when I was in my 30s.
I no longer take any medication.
Thats interesting, becuase my doc insisted I go vegan for my health, and I just got sicker and sicker to the point of complete dissability.
The GMO’d grains, plants and especialy -SOY- were killing me, and then all he did was prescribe more drugs that also had sickening side effects.
When I went back to my old simple meat and potatoes diet I got better, he refused to believe it.
Was very glad when I got a different doc.
And a lot of those food items end up being “low fat” which is a whole ‘nuther hairball of bad diet advice. The documentary “Fat Fiction” was definitely eye opening. Right now I’m trying to stick to a high fat, low sugar diet to see if I can get my blood pressure lowered.
GOOD CHOCOLATE – I have a soy allergy and a love for milk chocolate. I hate bitter chocolate, so it’s especially difficult. I found a brand of chocolate chips that are delicious and soy-free: Guittard milk chocolate chips. I live in Seattle and found them in a Bartell Drug Store. I later found them at Target and now order them online for delivery.
I love guittard milk chocolate chocolate chips!!! This is the only I was able to eat. I recently found the brand alter eco is made almost without any allergens and it is delicious! Think of a Lindt truffle. Also the brand unreal is amazing!
The brand of chocolate called Alter Ego does not have soy in it (Atleast not any bars I’ve tried). Neither does the brand Enjoy Life.
Soy is not only found in foods. For years I would come out of the shower covered in hives. Thought I was just sensitive to the water after changing all my soaps to “sensitive” formulas I was still getting red spots. After i was diagnosed with a soy allergy I checked my soaps (dove sensitive skin to name one) and sure enough there was soy in them 🙁 that shocked me for sure! Also if it wasn’t mentioned already……fresh fruits and veggies are sprayed with a soy based spray, that’s what makes them shiny.
Insanity
Watch out for Aveeno as well.
I also use dove sensitive skin hypoallergenic soap and have a soy allergy! I swore there was something in it that I was allergic to! I would get red dots and rashes all over my skin and become itchy. I proceeded to research the soap and couldn’t really find anything, until today. I researched it again and it has “Glycine Soja”, which is soybean oil. This makes so much sense I feel like I brain is going to explode. Thanks for your post.
Here is a list of food/things-in-food that may contain soy.
https://foodallergies.about.com/od/commonfoodallergies/fl/Food-and-Ingredients-to-Avoid-on-a-Soy-Free-Diet.htm
Anything that has flavorings, emulsifiers, extracts, or stabilizers can be a hidden source of soy. I noticed your posting of the tea bag that had soy listed on it, it is likely from the “natural flavors.” Most tea that is compressed and packaged (vs. the pure loose leaf options) contain ‘natural flavors’ and should be avoided for anyone with a severe soy allergy.
The worst and most horrid addition of SOY is in the canned and boxed soups! Heinz even added soy protein to Mrs. Grasses chicken noodle soup. Soy allergy is a progressive allergy and each reaction is worst than the reaction before it. The agri lobbyists don’t care they just keep pushing the product and Archer Daniels Midland keeps making money. My fear is that soy is heavily treated with all kinds of horrid chemicals and these chemicals may be making it into our food supply and with these chemical the switch for all kinds of horrid Cancers may be turned on in our bodies. So where is the FDA and why are they not protecting consumers ?
Do you know why Soy bean oil in the USA doesn’t have to be listed on the allergy warning labels? I have bought so many foods rushing and just glancing at that “may Contain” line and hurry out the store after eating it and having a crabby baby I then back track and realize it did in fact have soy oil. I get so frustrated with this.
Hi Nichole,
Thanks for asking that question. I’ve updated the page above to include a link to my rant Just tell me if there’s soy in it”