Soy Lecithin
Emulsifier
Questionable
Details
Definition
A food additive extracted from soy or other materials and used as an emulsifier or lubricant.
AKAs
Lecithin (Soy),E442
Health Impact
Soy lecithin is typically derived from GMO soy. To avoid this, look for organic soy lecithin which would be inherently non-GMO. Another concern is that the chemical solvent hexane is used in the extraction of soy lecithin from soybeans. People who are allergic to soy may also have a reaction to soy lecithin.
This ingredient is stripped of it's nutritional value in the processing phase. It is often used to treat Alzheimer and dementia diseases. However, has also been seen to cause GI discomfort and diarrhea.
Sources
Traceability of genetically modified Roundup Ready soybean: A case study on sampling and analytical uncertainty along processing chain
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0956713513002533