Soy allergy

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Definition Symptoms Causes Risk factors

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Definition

Soy allergy affects approximately 1 percent of people in the United States. Soy, also called soya, is among the top eight most common foods that trigger allergies in children. In many cases soy allergy starts with a reaction to a soy-based infant formula. Although most children outgrow soy allergy by age 3, soy allergy may persist and is becoming more common in adults.

In most cases signs and symptoms of soy allergy are mild. Severe allergic reactions are more common with other food allergens than with soy, but in rare cases, soy allergy can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Deaths linked to soy allergy have occurred in people who also had both severe peanut allergy and asthma. You can reduce your risk of having an allergic reaction to soy by knowing as much as you can about soy allergy and how to avoid soy-containing products.

If you — or your child — have a reaction to soy, tell your doctor about it, no matter how mild the reaction may have been. Tests can help confirm a soy allergy, so you can take steps to avoid future and potentially worse reactions.

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Symptoms