WRITTEN QUESTION E-3300/00

by Eryl McNally (PSE) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Soy products

There are different opinions on the benefits of the consumption of soy products: on the one hand the United States Food and Drug Administration has allowed most soy products to have health claims labelling but independent scientists claim that increased consumption of soy products can provoke serious health hazards, with defects or chronic diseases, such as vaginal adenocarcinoma or penile deformities in new-born babies.

Is the Commission doing any research on the effects of soy consumption on human beings?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(14 December 2000)

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that a research project is about to be funded on the effects of soy consumption on human beings within the scope of key action 1 (Food, nutrition and health) of the specific programme Quality of life and management of living resources of the Fifth framework programme for Research and technological development (RTD)(1). This project has been negotiated successfully and is in the procedure of selection by the Commission. It is entitled The prevention of osteoporosis by nutritional phytoestrogens. The coordinator is Dr Francesco Branca of the Istituto nazionale di ricerca per gli alimenti e la nutrizione in Italy. A large-scale, multicentre, randomised intervention trial will be conducted in three Member States using specially designed foods that are enriched with isoflavones isolated from soy. Acceptability of these foods among the target population (women 45 years old and more) and expectations created by different nutritional claims will be addressed by a survey in five Member States.

Another project was funded in the fourth framework programme within the programme FAIR. This project, entitled Phenolic phytoprotectants (PPP) Role in preventing initiation, promotion and progression of cancer, was coordinated by Dr Herman Adlercreutz of the University of Helsinki and ended in December 1998. The objectives were to identify and quantify PPPs in plants and foods including soy products, assess their bioavailability and the role of intestinal microflora in their metabolism as well as to evaluate anticancer effects. A soy-PPP-containing diet had no anticarcinogenic effect in a mouse model in short-term experiments. However, when rats were fed with soy before and after transplantation of rat prostate cancer into the back of the animals, there was a significant delay in the development of the cancer.

To the Commission's knowledge, there is no scientific evidence proving that normal consumption of soy is harmful. Abnormalities in the reproductive systems do not occur in the Oriental countries, where the consumption of soy products is a part of the traditional diet. There are questions however, as to whether a very high consumption of isoflavones over an extended period, may have harmful effects. The Commission therefore agrees that more research is needed in order to clarify whether high dosage exposure to isoflavones over an extended period may have adverse effects. Proposals in this area of research may be submitted in the frame of key action 1 (Food, nutrition and health) of the specific programme Quality of life and management of living resources of the fifth framework programme.

(1) OJ L 26, 1.2.1999.