--- title: "Soy Allergen Labelling and Introduction Rules: European Union" description: "Soybeans are item 6 of the EU's 14 allergens, with exemptions for fully refined soybean oil and fat and certain soy-derived tocopherols, phytosterols and…" url: "https://baby-allergy-tracker.com/guides/soy/european-union/" --- [Allergen guides](/guides/) / [European Union](/guides/#european-union) / Soy Allergen guide · European Union # Soy in the European Union: label rules and introduction guidance Sources checked September 2026. Every claim below links to the official source it comes from. **Educational note:** This guide summarises official labelling rules and published guidance. It is not medical advice. Always ask your paediatrician about your baby's specific health needs before introducing new foods or interpreting symptoms. [Read our full disclaimer](/disclaimer/). **Direct Answer:** Soybeans are item 6 of the EU's 14 allergens, with exemptions for fully refined soybean oil and fat and certain soy-derived tocopherols, phytosterols and stanol esters. EFSA's 2019 review looked at soy specifically, and its conclusion is that allergenic foods can be introduced with other complementary foods. ## Is soy on the EU's list of 14 allergens? Annex II lists 'soybeans and products thereof' as item 6. It carries more exemptions than any other entry: fully refined soybean oil and fat; natural mixed tocopherols (E306) and natural D-alpha tocopherol and its acetate and succinate from soybean sources; phytosterols and phytosterol esters derived from vegetable oils from soybean sources; and plant stanol ester produced from soybean sterols. Outside those highly processed forms, soy flour, soy protein, tofu and soy drinks must be emphasised in the ingredient list. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers lists 14 substances or products in Annex II. Article 21 requires each one to be emphasised in the list of ingredients through a typeset that clearly distinguishes it, for example by font, style or background colour. Where a food has no ingredient list, the label uses the word 'contains' followed by the allergen's name. - [EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex II (consolidated text)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011R1169-20180101) ## What EFSA guidance says about introducing soy EFSA's 2019 opinion evaluated the timing of complementary foods in general and specifically for foods containing egg, cereals, fish, soy and peanut. Soy is not one of the four examples in the headline conclusion, but the conclusion is general: allergenic foods can be introduced when other complementary foods are introduced, and EFSA found no evidence that starting complementary feeding before 6 months is either harmful or beneficial. If your baby uses a soy-based formula or has a known allergy, ask your paediatrician how soy foods fit in. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed about 300 scientific publications for its 2019 opinion on when complementary foods can be introduced. EFSA's opinion is scientific advice to EU risk managers; recommendations to the public are issued by the health authorities of each Member State, so the plan your paediatrician follows may come from a national guideline. - [EFSA: Appropriate age range for introduction of complementary feeding into an infant's diet (2019)](https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/5780) - [EFSA: Age to start complementary feeding of infants (plain-language summary)](https://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/Complementary_Feeding_PLS_PDF.pdf) ## Logging soy in the app Set your region to the European Union and the app's allergen schedule follows the 14 Annex II allergens. In the schedule, soy appears as **Soybeans**. Each allergen entry moves from not started to introduced, cleared or reaction, and the 14-day window keeps new foods spaced out so a delayed reaction is easier to match to a food. Note the food, such as tofu or soy yoghurt, rather than just 'soy', so repeat offerings are easy to line up. If you see a symptom, log it with its severity; the paediatrician report gathers the dates into one PDF for your next appointment. It is a record for you and your doctor, not a diagnosis. Track soy from first taste to cleared Log every offering and any reaction against your baby's own timeline, then share one clear report with your paediatrician. [Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1445346223?pt=117722137&ct=Blog&mt=8) [Google Play version coming soon](mailto:support@baby-allergy-tracker.com?subject=Notify%20me%20when%20the%20Android%20version%20launches) Coming soon — clicktap to get notified Free to download. Premium from US$2.99/month or US$24.99/year; prices vary by country. ![](/assets/images/app-store-qr.png) Scan with your iPhone camera to get the app. [Or open the App Store link →](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1445346223?pt=117722137&ct=Blog&mt=8) The app is iPhone only for now. [Tell me when it comes to Android](mailto:support@baby-allergy-tracker.com?subject=Notify%20me%20when%20the%20Android%20version%20launches) ## Soy in other countries - [Soy in the United States](/guides/soy/united-states/) - [Soy in the United Kingdom](/guides/soy/united-kingdom/) - [Soy in Australia and New Zealand](/guides/soy/australia-new-zealand/) - [Soy in Canada](/guides/soy/canada/) ## Other allergens in the European Union - [Peanut in the European Union](/guides/peanut/european-union/) - [Tree nuts in the European Union](/guides/tree-nuts/european-union/) - [Egg in the European Union](/guides/egg/european-union/) - [Milk in the European Union](/guides/milk/european-union/) - [Wheat in the European Union](/guides/wheat/european-union/) - [Fish in the European Union](/guides/fish/european-union/) - [Shellfish in the European Union](/guides/shellfish/european-union/) - [Sesame in the European Union](/guides/sesame/european-union/) The full [EU allergen list](/blog/eu-14-allergens-food-labelling-list/): all 14 allergens, and why it's longer than the US's. See every region's full list side by side on [Allergen Lists by Region](/allergen-lists/).