Oils and butters

So, we're already learning how pervasive soybean oil and soy are! (We understand soybean oil is tolerated by some soy allergic kids but with an anaphylactic reaction to soy, we're going to be careful). In particular, this is problematic when baking, cooking, making sauces or marinades, as well as every greased pan, cooking sheet, muffin tin...you get the idea. 

Some lessons so far: 

- vegetable oil is out. It usually contains soy (a vegetable).

+ Canola oil is a great substitute- just read the label to make sure it is canola only.

+/- only USDA olive oil is in. Olive oil comes from many countries and when not 'sealed' by the USDA is subject to those countries' different labeling/production laws and may be a blend. 

- margarine is out so far (no soy safe margarines located so far)

- spreadable margarine is out-contains soy or 'natural flavors'

- cooking spray is out so far (let you know if we find a safe one)

-/+ butter is out...and in. My Publix butter contains 'natural flavoring'. My Land O Lakes Unsalted Butter has 'natural flavoring'. Soy is 'natural' and on a label 'natural flavoring' often means it contains soy. My sweet cream salted Land O Lakes butter is in: it only contains sweet cream and salt. (Confused? I am too!)

 

-/+ ordinary shortening is out- it will either say it contains soybean oil in the ingredients or vegetable oil (a mix likely including soy). I was able to find a safe shortening at Whole Foods called Spectrum that only contains palm oil.

Phew...

Lesson 1

Literally within minutes of getting the phone call with the test results about the soy allergy, we found out the hard way that Chick-Fil-A uses soy protein in their self-titled dipping sauce. We always knew they used refined peanut oil to fry their delicious nuggets but they recently added grilled nuggets that are peanut safe. A little post-911-and-Emergency-Room research seems to indicate that CFA is probably soy-safe on the grilled nuggets, just not the sauce.

Life gets interesting

After a few years of learning to live with a toddler's peanut allergy, we found out this week that our youngest is also allergic to soy. It turns out that soy is much more common and is used in widely varying forms and names so this allergy is going to be a challenge. If you care at all about the kid or the allergy or the mom or the way to live with either in South Florida follow along. As much as anything this is where we can keep track of what we learn but you may find a nugget too. Enjoy!