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.
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.
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.
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.
Here is a list of food/things-in-food that may contain soy.
http://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”