Allergies

Though uncommon, food allergies can have serious consequences. Only 1 in 3,000 adults is estimated to be allergic to soy protein. This estimate is much lower than is commonly perceived. However, the incidence of true food allergy among adults is quite low, and soy is much less allergenic than are many commonly consumed foods. Also, the reaction to soy protein is typically less severe than is the case for many other foods.

Soyfoods often take the place of the more allergenic foods, such as cow's milk and eggs. However, some people are also allergic to soy. Those who are allergic to soy may be able to tolerate some soyfoods but not others. It is important for these people to read food labels and familiarize themselves with the ingredients.

If a person has a food allergy, alternative foods must be found to provide the missing nutrients. Identifying alternative foods is especially crucial in the case of young children because they are in a phase of rapid growth and development. Soy-based infant formulas have been used for decades to feed infants with cow's milk protein allergies.

Today's soy formulas are equivalent to cow's milk formulas in digestibility, nutrition profile, and acceptability. In healthy infants, soy formulas promote normal growth, nutritional status, and bone mineralization.