Is soy milk safe for people with nut allergies?

Does soy milk contain nuts?

The FDA’s list of major food allergens is milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. Soybeans and tree nuts are separate entries, so soy milk made from soybeans is not made from tree nuts. We did not find an official source that rules out nuts in every soy milk product, because makers add other ingredients.

How do I check a soy milk label for nuts?

Under FDA rules, the food source of each major allergen must appear at least once on the label, either in brackets after the ingredient or in a “Contains” statement, such as “Contains wheat, milk, and soy.” For tree nuts, the label must name the specific nut, such as almonds, pecans or walnuts, not just “tree nuts.”

• Look for a “Contains” line.
• Scan the ingredient list for named nuts.
• Be careful with blends: an almond or cashew blend is a nut product.

We did not open an official source on shared-factory (cross-contact) warnings, so ask the maker or your allergist if that matters for you.

Can you be allergic to soy milk?

Yes. The NHS lists soybeans among the most common allergenic foods and says you can be allergic to any food. NHS symptoms include an itchy skin or raised rash, coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, feeling sick, tummy pain and diarrhoea.

When is it an emergency?

The NHS says to call 999 (UK) if, for example, your throat feels tight or you are struggling to swallow. Do not drive yourself to A&E. Otherwise, see a GP if you think you have a food allergy.