Page 60 - Winter2010

Soy Alert!

THE LITTLE KNOWN SOy-GLUTEN CONNECTION
SOy AND SANITATION: POOR REASON TO GO VEGAN
by Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD
By Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD

Fears about salmonella poisoning, listeria, Given all the vegan scare stories and the
swine flu and avian flu from animal foods are filthy reality of factory-farming operations, it’s
boosting the market for soy and other vegan hardly news that people in record numbers are
foodstuffs and supplements. The demand gets avoiding meat, milk and eggs, but is it wise to go
its main boost from vegans, of course, but also vegan for safety reasons? Not if we patronize lo-
from increasing numbers of omnivores who’ve cal farmers who raise healthy, happy, free-range
heard that plant foods are the best way to avoid and pastured animals and make it a priority to
food poisoning. The safest and most sanitary run clean operations. And also not if it’s diseases
foods of all, according to this line of thinking, from listeria, E. coli, and salmonella that we are
are processed and packaged goods. trying to avoid. Most cases of foodborne illness
Market analyst Kathie Brownlie reveals in come from contaminated commercial vegetables,
the online newsletter NutraIngredients, “the such as strawberries, spinach, alfalfa sprouts and
market is driven by crises—and it did not ex- peppers, and not from animal foods at all.
ist a decade ago.” Another factor in this new As for soy, there are surprising risks of con-
and booming market is the widely perceived tamination. Packaged soy products seem aseptic,
“healthy” image of vegan ingredients. According safe and sanitary, but recalls have been legion
to Chris Olivant of the UK’s Vegetarian Society, over the years, suggesting that the squeaky-clean
the number of vegetarians has steadily increased packaging might only seal in disease.
over the past decade, but “tends to peak in the
immediate aftermath of an animal health scare, LARGEST RECALL IN FDA HISTORY
then drop back down to prior levels afterwards.” Consider what may prove to be the larg-
est recall in FDA history. It occurred in March
SYNTHETIC BETA-CAROTENE 2010 and involved salmonella-contaminated
“If you have a complete portfolio of veg- hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) produced by
Packaged soy etarian ingredients, you will be prepared for Basic Food Flavors, Inc. of Las Vegas, Nevada.
products seem any animal health scare that breaks,” says Salmonella was found on the company’s process-
Lukas Christian, global product manager for ing equipment. HVP is used to enhance flavors
aseptic, safe beta-carotene at DSM Nutritional Products. Nu- of thousands of food products, extend shelf life,
and sanitary, traIngredients reports that DSM is launching a and otherwise increase the food industry’s bot-
but recalls new synthetic beta-carotene to compete against tom line. HVP is an ingredient in just about every
animal-derived beta-carotenes. Other companies processed food available in stores. As a paste
have been too, including BASF and Biodar, have come out or powder, it is added to soups, sauces, chilis,
legion, with vegetarian beta-carotenes. If you naively stews, hot dogs, gravies, snack foods, dips and
suggesting thought beta-carotene supplements would come dressings.
from carrots and other vegetables, welcome to The name hydrolyzed vegetable protein
that the the brave new world of supplements. Why grow most often refers to “hydrolyzed corn protein”
squeaky-clean carrots, after all, when you can produce beta- or “hydrolyzed soy protein” and may sometimes
packaging carotene with microorganisms? And why bother be labeled as such. If mixed with spices, it is
with the care and feeding of wee beasties when routinely identified only as “natural smoke fla-
might only you can manufacture a synthetic beta-carotene vor” or “natural flavors.” This labeling practice
seal in disease. that can be billed as vegetarian? protects proprietary recipes of manufacturers,

60 Wise Traditions WINTER 2010

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