More information about food

Following on from earlier posts we have had more information from the Food Standards Agency on the inclusion of soya in so much of our food.

We sent this report produced by Mr Richard James in association with Dr Mike Fitzpatrick http://cot.food.gov.uk/pdfs/peg-01-7.pdf and highlighted some of the findings within it.

We received the following reply:

"As you are aware, Soya is used as an ingredient in many food products,
including some bakery goods, sweets, drinks, breakfast cereals, ice cream,margarine, pasta and processed meats and as a meat substitute.

This is generally done to increase shelf life and in particular in bread is a
natural whitener and helps to maintain a quality product. Soya and its
derivatives can appear on food labels as Soya flour, hydrolysed vegetable protein, soy protein isolate, protein concentrate, textured vegetable protein, vegetable oil (simple, fully, or partially hydrogenated), plant sterols, or the emulsifier lecithin.

You may also be aware that the allergen labelling rules establish the 14
most common food allergens within the European Union, (including Soya)
which will have to be indicated by reference to the source allergen
whenever they, or their derived ingredients, are added as ingredients in
pre-packed foods. People who are allergic to soya protein should always
read the ingredients list carefully and avoid any foods containing soybean.

Caution should be exercised when dining at Asian restaurants or when using Asian sauces, which may contain soya.

The Agency’s primary aim is to protect the health of the public and the
interests of consumers in relation to food and to ensure that food allergic
and food intolerant consumers have the right information to help them
choose safe and healthy food. We can encourage food manufacturers to take account of the needs of food allergic consumers but ultimately it is up to industry to make decisions about the ingredients and foods they want to produce. However such foods have to be clearly labelled to enable consumers choose products suitable for them.

In your e-mail you also mention a report of the Committee on Toxicity of
Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT). Soya contains a number of naturally occurring compounds called phytoestrogens.

These may act as weak forms of the human hormone oestrogen and may produce biological effects. To assess the risks and benefits of dietary
phytoestrogens, the COT reviewed all the available scientific and medical
literature in the area leading to the publication of their report entitled
“Phytoestrogens and Health” in May 2003 . The paper you refer to in your
email was considered by the COT working group on phytoestrogens during this scientific review. The COT Phytoestrogens and Health report can be accessed using the following link:
http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2003/may/phytoreport0403news

The COT report identified three subgroups of the population for whom the
evidence suggested a potential risk from consumption of large amounts of
phytoestrogens. These were infants fed on soy-based infant formula,
individuals with hypothyroidism and women diagnosed with breast cancer.

The Agency does not advise healthy adults and children against eating soya products. Soya is a good source of protein and soya products can be consumed as part of a healthy, balanced diet, however as stated above, since November 2005, food labelling rules require pre-packed food sold in the UK (and the rest of the European Union) to show clearly on the label if it contains soya or if one of its ingredients contains it.

I hope that this is helpful to you. However the advice contained in this
email should not be taken as an authoritative statement of the law or its
interpretation. The opinion of enforcement authorities may differ. Only
the courts can decide whether in particular circumstances an offence has
been committed."

We actually find it quite disturbing that the Food Standards Agency are highlighting the fact that infants fed on soya formula, those with hyperthyroidism and women with breast cancer are at "potential risk from consumption of large amounts of phytoestrogens".

This of course begs the question.... How much is a "large amount"?

We've asked the question and await a reply, we have also asked whether they are advising GP's to not prescribe soya based formulas.

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