A soy allergy is unrelated to eating chicken, unless you're eating processed chicken breast sold as lunch or deli meat. The Lucile Packard Children's Hospital states that processed deli meats commonly contain soy as a filler or extender in the food product. If you have been diagnosed with a soy allergy, you should avoid the consumption of all lunch meats, as they may contain soy. A soy allergy is diagnosed by an allergist and should not be diagnosed exclusively by your symptoms. Other conditions may be related to common allergy symptoms.
Background Information
A soy allergy is considered one of the most common food allergies, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, UMMC. Soy allergies are more common among children than adults, but can affect anyone at any age. If you're allergic to soy, your immune system malfunctions and mistakes the proteins in the soy product as a harmful substance. The immune system quickly develops antibodies to fight off the soy proteins, which triggers the production of histamine in soft tissue, such as in the lungs, sinuses or skin. A food allergy only affects about 2 percent of the adult population and needs to be assessed by a doctor.
Chicken
Eating fresh, whole chicken is considered safe if you've been diagnosed with a soy allergy, according to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Any processed chicken should be evaluated for the presence of soy. The federal government requires that all packaged foods disclose the use of soy on the package. Look for the disclosure by the ingredients. It will commonly read, "contains: soy." Other ingredients that may hide soy include: vitamin E, lecithin, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, vegetable broth, textured vegetable protein and MSG, according to MayoClinic.com. Avoid chicken that has been prepared in soy sauce or using any other condiments containing soy.
Symptoms
If you eat chicken that contains soy, you will develop symptoms within a few minutes and no longer than two hours after consumption, according to the UMMC. Common symptoms include: wheezing, hives, itchiness, facial swelling, tingling in the mouth, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nasal congestion, a runny nose and sneezing. A soy allergy can lead to anaphylactic shock, a severe allergic reaction that could be life-threatening. If you become faint, turn blue or can't breathe, call 911.
Consideration
Some chicken substitutes are made from soy protein and can cause an allergic reaction. The most effective way to ensure there is no soy present in the chicken you're eating is to prepare it yourself from a fresh chicken. Ask your server when eating out about the ingredients in the dish you order.
