very confused about labeling- soy? please help!

melissa-n-paul

dd has food allergies so for the past 2 years ive become very educated and could tell you anything you want about dairy allergies but now dc#2 has possible dairy and soy intolerance so im on an elimation diet (was mostly dairy free before but taking it MUCH more seriously now and restricting ALL soy as well). Most products Ive come across are labeled easily but some are only boldfaced at the bottom without soy even though the ingrediants clearly list SOYBEAN OIL or another form of soy in the list- why is this? I know with dairy there are different protiens but is it the same with soy? What do I NEED to stay away from according to labels when avoiding soy- is some soy ok if it is not boldfaced with other allergians at the bottom of the list?

What about natural flavors? Do you stay away from foods with that in case its soy? Like Hienz ketchup- it appears safe but has "natuaral flavors"= soy?

also, anyone have a dairy/soy free bread/bagel/etc they recommend, I did just find a wrap thats safe but looking for other suggestions?

g_belle

Foodallergy.org has a list of ingredients to avoid for a certain allergy diet.   here's soy:

https://www.foodallergy.org/files/media/patient-handouts/Soy.pdf

Our rule of thumb is always to call the company or look on the website if we aren't certain.  "Natural Flavor" can means all kinds of crazy stuff so I'd call.  We have switched to mostly organic products for all of our groceries simply because the labels are easier to read. 

No ideas on the soy free bread.  Sorry!  If you have a breadmaker (or can borrow one or find one cheap on craigslist) it's super easy to make your own. 

heyitsme

Actually, if the natural flavors involves one of the Top-8 allergens, per FALCPA, the company MUST somehow note that (bolded, in parens, etc.). But if you're dealing with other allergies (garlic, mustard, corn, etc.) then it's harder because they don't need to note that. Companies are NOT required to bold/make note of soybean oil or soy lechitin because they contain little to no soybean protein. That being said, some soy allergic people are OK with them and some aren't. It's an individual thing.

magdusia

soy is ridiculously confusing. sometimes they bold it. sometimes they mark it as an ALLERGEN, sometimes they don't bold or make an allergy statement. it's very frustrating and that's why there are always a second set of eyes that looks through the ingredients before my son has anything.  I can't tell you how many times my DH found soy in the ingredients that i missed. (or vise versa) 

I buy most of my products organic.. i use organic ketchup and i don't think there is "natural flavors" in there.  I never really thought about what natural flavors contains and never had any issues, but i do buy mostly organic stuff, especially for my son.

I make my own bread..  I've been planning on making this one and substituting soy for rice milk.. i'll probably make it this weekend.  It's really easy to make bread.  I also make my own pizza bread and break it up in little balls and freeze it and then i can make pizza bread within 10 minutes.

oh and Lenders (i think it's the name) bagels are soy/milk free.  I have a bakery that sells milk/soy free bagels.. some bakeries sell milk/soy free breads..

I took this from my blog.. it's my favorite products and all are soy/milk/egg/peanut free

{Pantry}
~Let's Do Gluten Free Ice Cream Cones (the box with the girl on it)
~Let's Do sprinkles
~Pasta by Eden Organics, Spelt pasta
~HeartSmart Bisquick (White Box) pancake mix
~Cereals: Cheerios, Chex, Rice Crisp, honey comb, kix
~Minute Rice (cooks well with rice milk) (I will be switching to brown soon)
~Earths Best Oatmeal
~Cherrybrook kitchen cake and frosting cake mixes
~Carrs Crackers

{Refrigerator}
~Daiya Cheese
~Earth Balance butter (the red box)
~Enjoy Life Chocolate chips

{Freezer}
~So Delicious ice cream (chocolate and mango flavor)
~Tyson Chicken Nuggets (Dinosaur shaped)
~Amy's products (some of her burrito platters are milk/soy/egg free)
~Ian's Alphabet fries