Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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Do soy allergens end up in eggs of chickens that eat soy-based feed? For that matter, what about wheat gluten?

The Tropical Traditions site says this:

"Almost all commercial eggs, including those that are organic or marketed as 'Omega 3' eggs, are from chickens fed high concentrations of soy beans. Many people are consuming soy protein in their eggs without probably realizing it. Tropical Traditions’ soy-free organic eggs have been tested to be soy-free."

http://www.seopressreleases.com/tropical-traditions-announces-organic-soyfree-eggs-delivered-nationwide/7341

I have been trying to find evidence of this research. As an extremely soy and wheat-sensitive celiac, I am somewhat skeptical. I eat a lot of eggs and can't trace any allergic reactions to eggs; however, I do get an outbreak of a very persistent rash from time to time and I cannot identify the source. My eating is 100% clean (I prepare all my own meals...I use NO grains, NO processed food, and most adamantly NO soy and or gluten)--unless I'm ingesting something well hidden.

I have long rationalized eating (potentially) eggs from soy-fed chickens on the grounds that the soy proteins are destroyed by the chicken during its metabolism of the feed.

Solving this rash problem is my #1 most difficult and enduring health challenge. As I've learned to identify hidden allergens, I've brought the incidence of rash down to once every couple months. It is the same rash I had when I used to get exposed to soy and wheat on a regular basis, after adopting a soy and wheat-free diet (i.e., when restaurant servers mischaracterized the food they served me, or when I ate something without studying up on it or reading the label).

For what it's worth, I buy both "cage free" and "pastured" eggs from my local co-op. They're all from local chickens but I buy a variety of different brands from many different farms. I have not investigated what each farm feeds their birds but I avoid any egg that says "100% vegetarian diet" (for obvious reasons...chickens aren't vegetarians).

If one (or more) of my sources is periodically giving me a dose of soy proteins, this could explain the rash.

Thoughts? References to research that shows allergen proteins ending up in the eggs (or even flesh) of any animal that ingests said proteins?

flag	asked Jan 13 2011 at 19:18 wjones3044 10k●19●56

	Are you reading over at the gluten zap forum? – Egk Jan 17 2011 at 1:37
	I have not heard of this forum. – wjones3044 Jan 19 2011 at 14:21
	glutenzap.com – egk Jan 24 2011 at 23:29

Ang · Answer 1 · 2013-04-01 18:26:20Z UTC

If you are affected by soy and gluten because of an autoimmune thyroid disorder, as I am, you may not get a violent reaction when eating eggs that contain those ingredients, but you can still have harm done to your body that you might not detect, like on an immune level. Not everything happening to the body because of soy and gluten is going to show up in an obvious way. But it can still be bad for you. I think we need to eat animals that are raised the way the animals were created to eat. There will always be less problems when we do.

Thomy · Answer 2 · 2012-06-10 11:38:16Z UTC

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Yeah, unfortunately it's true. Just one "soy-fed-egg" and I'll look like I've spent the night on an anthill.

answered Jun 10 at 11:38

Thomy
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Andrea · Answer 3 · 2012-06-10 11:27:42Z UTC

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I've had a bout of egg-reaction this week that I'll never forget! Almost sent me to the emergency room. The only trace back was from farm eggs that I bought at a local farmer's market this past week.

I'll certainly be asking some questions next time I'm down there...

answered Jun 10 at 11:27

Andrea
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I'm sorry to hear that. What about soy-fed meat? Any reaction there? – Thomy Jun 10 at 11:40

Heather · Answer 4 · 2012-04-22 17:56:32Z UTC

I used to get very sick from eating eggs--like food poisoning, about 20 minutes after eating. I went to the doctor and had an allergy test, but negative for eggs. The doctor said that the reaction could be caused by the feed the chickens were eating. Now I only eat eggs from my daughter's chickens, who are fed corn. I don't have any problems with them.

egk · Answer 5 · 2011-01-16 20:26:48Z UTC

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From Google Scholar, a thesis on soy in chicken feed:

http://74.125.155.132/scholar?q=cache:lWBdNe6pi3cJ:scholar.google.com/&hl=en&as_sdt=800000000000

answered Jan 16 2011 at 20:26

egk
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Interesting. A chicken is what it eats, apparently. The article details isoflavones coming through in the eggs and flesh. But what about allergenic proteins? – wjones3044 Jan 17 2011 at 15:35

Stephen-Aegis · Answer 6 · 2011-01-20 00:18:54Z UTC

Ive seen anecdotal studies all over about this from individuals with a soy allergy.

http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/learning-how-to-eat-again-when-you-have-a-soy-allergy/

Fresh meat… When an animal is fed a soy-based diet, does the soy “come through” in the meat? How about eggs and soy-fed hens? I have never seen research on this subject. I have, however, had one of the worst allergic reactions of my life after eating a small amount of chicken (and nothing else) from a certain famous company. A call to this company revealed that the diet fed to these chickens was entirely soybeans. It is a given that most food animals are fed a diet high in soy… we discovered firsthand how difficult it is to find soy-free commercial animal feed when we first started feeding our pig, goat, chickens, ducks, and geese. (For the record, these animals were all pets and not for food.) Not everyone will want to do as we have done… we have almost entirely eliminated meat from our diet, and we have done this for a variety of reasons besides soy… but if you’re still having reactions and can’t trace the cause, meat from soy-fed animals could be the hidden culprit. Also, with the holidays coming up, you will want to avoid self-basting turkeys or any turkeys that have an ingredient list with “natural flavors added.”

http://www.westonaprice.org/soy-alert/669-dealing-with-soy-allergies.html

For highly allergic people, the new labeling law is not enough. Soy oil, lecithin and vitamin E (often added as a preservative) do not fall under the labeling requirement. (The FDA reasons that such products are free of soy protein, which is only true when they are manufactured under perfect conditions.) Animal products too may unexpectedly contain "hidden" soy. Some will appear on labels such as "extenders" added to ground meat, "plasticizers" used to hold patties, meat balls and hot dogs together or soy oil pumped into pre-basted turkeys. But labeling won't help the increasing numbers of people who are starting to react to the flesh of fish, poultry, lamb or cattle that were fattened on soy feed and to eggs laid by soy fed chickens.

Edit: extremely disappointed to find that the Christopher eggs are actually not soy free.

Found another option:

http://yankeeacres.com/soy-free-eggs/

alt text

Farm Fresh Eggs (ungraded) from pastured, free range hens fed a SOY FREE DIET at Yankee Acres:

SIZE PRICE

PeeWee $1.50/Doz

Small $2.50/Doz

Medium $3.00/Doz

Large $4.00/Doz

Extra-Large $5.00/Doz

Jumbo (& beyond!) $3.00/ Half Dozen

Pelinor · Answer 7 · 2011-01-14 07:20:38Z UTC

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Hi All, I have found that the best source of eggs is fish eggs, & it give you iodine.

Paul.

answered Jan 14 2011 at 7:20

Pelinor
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I've found one source of raw fish eggs (salmon, specifically) online, raw, but most fish eggs you'll get commercially are NOT gluten-free. Roe at sushi restaurants is almost always marinated in soy sauce, and even caviar often has gluten in it, according to celiac message boards. – Sara S. Apr 22 2012 at 23:03

Todd · Answer 8 · 2011-01-13 19:41:38Z UTC

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This is effectively what I was trying to ask (in part) in my recent post here

http://paleohacks.com/questions/18880/3-part-question-on-eggs#axzz1AwU63ndK

But just worded much better. Thanks for asking this Wjones, I'm looking forward to answers.

answered Jan 13 2011 at 19:41

Todd
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Not directly, but I basically want eggs without any contact to Soy, grains, as I completely avoid these in my diet. – Todd Jan 13 2011 at 19:43

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This question, and an older question by Stephen Aegis, prompted me to write it. I don't feel like anyone has addressed it and I'm puzzled by the lack of citations to research. Then again, it's a difficult search to perform because most hits have to do with people who suffer from multiple allergies. – wjones3044 Jan 13 2011 at 19:49

Right. Its just so difficult for me to understand why so many people eat eggs (both in volume and frequency) when the main source of food for those eggs is grain / soy based, all things we actively avoid. The same reason most people on here buy grass fed meats. – Todd Jan 13 2011 at 19:55

Travis Culp · Answer 9 · 2011-01-13 19:28:43Z UTC

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I think they are broken down into their various amino acids and then reconstituted as "egg protein" or "chicken protein." What would transfer over would be the high omega-6 in the feed.

answered Jan 13 2011 at 19:28

Travis Culp♦
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I certainly hope you are correct. That said, I've found three or four independent allegations on various Websites but no substantiation with research (not even secondary sources). For example, "labeling won't help the increasing numbers of people who are starting to react to the flesh of fish, poultry, lamb or cattle that were fattened on soy feed and to eggs laid by soy fed chickens...." Weston A Price Website: westonaprice.org/soy-alert/669.html – wjones3044 Jan 13 2011 at 19:47

I suppose genetic modification could alter some of the feed's transferable constituents, but I'm not sure of which and what the mechanisms would be. My gut feeling is that your rash is the result of something you are overlooking. For example, I never have a problem with fowl, but I will get really itchy as a result of eating capsicums, but not nightshade in general since potatoes cause me no problems. – Travis Culp♦ Jan 13 2011 at 19:53

Are soy proteins found in the eggs of chickens that get soy-based feed?

9 Answers