Allergies Food Allergies Living With Surprising Non-Food Soybean Products Allergic to soy? You need to watch out for these non-food sources By Jeanette Bradley Jeanette Bradley is a noted food allergy advocate and author of the cookbook, "Food Allergy Kitchen Wizardry: 125 Recipes for People with Allergies" Learn about our editorial process Jeanette Bradley Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Daniel More, MD on September 08, 2020 Daniel More, MD, is a board-certified allergist and clinical immunologist. He is an assistant clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and currently practices at Central Coast Allergy and Asthma in Salinas, California. Learn about our Medical Review Board Daniel More, MD on September 08, 2020 Print Soybean products aren't limited to tofu anymore. In fact, soy is everywhere, and in many non-food products you just wouldn't expect. Soy products are powering city buses, insulating buildings, and filling your stuffed animals. Many products marketed as “green” or “eco-friendly” use soy-based alternatives to petroleum products. There are even new plastics made from soy. Saas Achim / Getty Images If you have a soy allergy, could you be allergic to these products? Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much research done on the link between food allergies and non-food products, and the research on soybean oil has had conflicting results. Some people may get rashes or hives by touching a food allergen (contact dermatitis), while others may be fine unless they actually eat the allergen. Some of these products may be so processed that the soy proteins have been broken down and no longer allergenic. In fact, research into highly processed soy indicates that this may be the case, at least for such highly processed products as plastic and biofuel. However, there is no way to predict the allergic potential of a product before you use it. Reactions to non-food items containing soy are rare and poorly described, but some people get them. Therefore, always check the ingredients of cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, or anything else that you will be putting on your skin. If you're very sensitive to soy, you may need to delve further into the ingredients of potential purchases. Don’t allow soy-allergic young children who put things in their mouths to play with soy-based crayons or modeling dough. Soy in Products Around the Home These products that you may use around your home don't always contain soy-based ingredients. However, all of them can contain soy, so you'll need to be careful with them, especially if you're particularly sensitive or if you experience symptoms simply from touching the allergen. Products and substances that may contain soy: Artificial fire logs Candles Carpet backing Cleaning products Inks and toners Pet food Synthetic fabrics Crib mattresses Soy in Your Drugs and Personal Care Products You probably realize that soy-based ingredients are ubiquitous in cosmetics and other personal care products. I just checked a few labels, and more than 90% of those I scanned contained something derived from soybeans. Soybean oil is common in products you put on your skin and in your hair, and many supplements and other medications contain soy. Some manufacturers will call out soy ingredients, while others will not. Here's a list of personal care products that may contain soy: Cosmetics Hand sanitizer Lotion Shampoo, conditioner and other hair products Soap Medications, vitamins, and supplements Soybeans in the Toy Box If your child has a soy allergy, you've likely already spent plenty of time tracking down places where the allergen can lurk. The toy box definitely is one of them. These toys and craft may contain soy: Crayons Modeling dough (several gluten-free substitutes for Play-Doh contain soy) Puzzles, games, or board books printed with soy-based inks Stuffed animal filling ("eco" stuffed animal products often use soy-based fillings) Industrial, Auto, and Building Supplies With Soy Since soybeans are inexpensive, manufacturers use them in everything from mechanical equipment to building materials. The following products may include soy ingredients: Diesel additives Engine oils and lubricants Fertilizer Flexible foam used in furniture padding Insecticides and fungicides Plastics Solvents, including paint stripper and graffiti remover Soy biodiesel fuel Spray foam insulation Furniture and car waxes Food stains and sealers A Word From Verywell Obviously, people who have a soy allergy need to worry first about soy ingredients in the foods they eat. As common as soy is in non-food items, it's even more common in processed food products. Make sure you're aware of the potential non-food uses for soy, particularly if you're very sensitive. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get one simple hack every day to make your life healthier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Wood, Robert. Food Allergens in Non-Food Items. Gu X, Beardslee T, Zeece M, Sarath G, Markwell J. Identification of IgE-binding proteins in soy lecithin. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2001 Nov;126(3):218-25. Levin, Cheryl; Erin Warshaw. Protein Contact Dermatitis: Allergens, Pathogenesis, and Management. Dermatitis. 2008;19(5):241-251. Mills, E. N., et al. Impact of Food Processing on the Structural and Allergenic Properties of Food Allergens. Mol Nutr Food Res 53.8 (2009): 963-9. United Soybean Board. Consumer Products Guide.