Soy allergen testing

Why do I need to do soy allergen testing?

Food allergies pose a widespread public health challenge, impacting millions of consumers globally. In recent years the management of allergens has gained significant attention, due to increasingly stringent allergen labelling regulations, GFSI food safety standard requirements, and the growing prevalence of undeclared allergens at the root of product recalls.

What is a soy food allergy?

Soybeans are members of the legume family, which includes beans, lentils, peas and peanuts. Some individuals may be allergic to a specific legume type, while others might react to multiple varieties. A soy allergy occurs when the body’s immune system becomes sensitised and reacts excessively to proteins found in soy.

Those with a soy allergy may experience reactions varying from mild abdominal pain to life-threatening anaphylaxis.

What do the regulations require?

Soy is a regulated allergen in most regions, and one of South Africa’s eight regulated common allergens; this means it must be declared on foodstuff packaging, and cross-contact in a food-producing facility must be controlled.

View our allergen labelling infographic for more information.

If you make a soy-free claim, testing is required to substantiate the claim.

What about the labelling of highly refined soybean derivatives?

If an ingredient contains a highly processed common allergen derivative, or is one, it may pose a reduced risk to sensitive consumers. Several countries have established a defined list of ingredients exempted from allergen labelling, though South Africa does not currently have such a list in place.

Although R. 146 does not provide a list of exempted ingredients, the definition for common allergens lists “egg, cow’s milk, crustaceans and molluscs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, tree nuts and any significant cereals, as well as ingredients derived from these foodstuffs that have retained their allergenicity in the final product”. The definition implies that some ingredients may be exempted. For example, if a thorough, recognised, science-based risk assessment indicates no risk to the consumer, the declaration may not be necessary.

Should you want to investigate whether an ingredient may potentially be exempted from allergen labelling, contact us to find out more about compiling a risk assessment.

Does FACTS offer soy allergen testing?

FACTS offers SANAS-accredited soy allergen testing. View and download our testing catalogue, or contact us for more information about the methods used.

All methods can be performed on surface swabs and air plates. It is important to note that all swab results are qualitative, and that the lab is accredited for select swab analyses. For more information on the FACTS laboratory accreditation status, view our SANAS accreditation certificate or contact us for more information.

Other articles and resources you may be interested in:
Possible peanut cross-contamination in soy lecithin
Allergen labelling: Significant impact on product sales and market
South Africa’s regulated common allergens
To claim or not to claim – The ‘Allergen-free’ controversy
Do you have to test for all food label claims?
Testing Catalogue
Infographic: Allergen Labelling