Surprising Non-Food Soybean Products

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.

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.

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

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

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)

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
• wood stains and sealers

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.

See our list of Soy Ingredients in Food for alternate names for soy and foods to avoid when on a soy-free diet. But make sure you're aware of the potential non-food uses for soy, as well, particularly if you're very sensitive.