France has put the soy in the spotlight. Science is not so clear that it is a good idea

Soy has become one more element in our kitchens. Soja drinks, for example, are no longer a simple substitute for milk used by vegan people, but as one more drink. However, soy has also aroused the suspicions of some, generally focused around one of its components. Now those who have just paid their food in this food have been the French health authorities. Advise against. A few weeks ago, ANSES, the National Agency for Health Security of Food, the Environment and French work, issued a recommendation in which soybean products were advised in collective restoration. The motive wielded is in the isoflavones, but Not everyone is convinced in which it has been a good idea. Soy and isoflavonas. The Isoflavonas They are estrogen -like substances (hormones linked mainly to female reproduction) that are produced by some plants. Among the plants that produce these compounds are soybeans, and also to a lesser extent in other legumes and vegetables. The impacts on the human health of these compounds have generated interest in the community, scientific, not only for the risks that could entail but also for potential benefits. Since these compounds can be “coupled” to our hormonal receptors, the possible risks associated with the consumption of these phytoestrogens usually associate with their impact on our hormonal system, especially in that of children and adolescents, even in the growth stage. Avoid excessive consumption. According to details Radio France Internationalthe new measure is focused on avoiding excessive consumption, through the recommendation to eliminate soy products from collective restoration. This includes from nurseries to elderly residences, as well as other teaching centers and the canteens of companies. The new guide of the French agency establishes toxicological reference values ​​(TRV) by ingestion that try to delimit the safe consumption of these compounds (those that are below the value), of which they could begin to suppose a risk. According to the agency, these values ​​would be 0.02 mg per kg of body mass and day in the general population, and 0.01 mg/kg of body mass and day in pregnant women and children. Doubts. The measure has generated some skepticism. As It is explained from Sincthe new limits are based on studies conducted with animal models. While this type of studies represent a fundamental pillar when studying the impact of some substances, extrapolating its results to humans is not always simple. There are at least three factors that could alter these results continue to explain the article. The first, metabolic: mice metabilize these compounds less efficiently, which causes them to accumulate more easily in their body. Secondly, because some of the studies would have been using high doses that would not correspond to those we absorb when we consume isoflavones orally. Finally, the intestinal microbiota could also play a fundamental role in our absorption of these compounds. And in this sense, the gastrointestinal microbioma of humans and mice differs too much to be able to perform reliable extrapolations. And in humans? As they detail from Sinchumans do not yield especially alarming results. Rather on the contrary. These studies, including A technical review published in 2022 In the magazine Critical Reviews in Food Science and NutritionThey tend to point out that endocrine disruption tests associated with soybean consumption or its isoflavones are not detected. Controlling food concentration. Although the recommendations to collective restoration have focused the debate of the new French recommendations, these also pay attention to soy producers and food manufacturers. Not all soy varieties and not all products of this legume contain comparable isoflavone concentrations. That is why It is recommended To these sectors choose plant varieties, agronomic techniques and elaboration processes that minimize the presence of these compounds. In Xataka | In full tariff war, the EU has found a weapon to press the United States: soybeans Image | Tankilevitch polyina

China had been buying tons and tons of soy to the US for years. A country has won in place: Brazil

China likes American soybeans. A lot. Every year matters from the fields of Illinois, Minnesota or Iowa Millions of tons From a crop that is consumed directly in pod, it is processed or is intended to feed cattle. The problem is that in full Commercial Warand with him Tariff crossing Of more than 100% applied by Washington and Beijing to their respective exports, that American grain will probably stop being attractive in Chinese factories. It has already happened years ago, during the commercial war of the first mandate of Donald Trump. And then, as now, China began to look with increasing interest other sources of soybeans. Which is it? Argentina and especially Brazil. A figure: 27 million. He Tariff pulse Between the US and China, which has resulted in a rise in encumbrances of more than 100% to the commercial flow in both directions, threatens to hit a key merchandise: soybeans. The reason is very simple. American farmers sell a lot, a lot of soy to the Asian giant. In 2024 that flow exceeded 27 million tons metrics, with a value of 12.8 billion dollars. Moreover, oleaginous seeds (group that includes soy) were one of the main US exports to China in terms of value. Two years ago, the US-China Business Council calculated that, together, oleaginous seeds and cereals represent the largest export of the US to China, with a value that was then ascended to 25.4 billion. To have a clearer image of what soybeans supposes in those accounts, The New York Times Precise that last year mobilized nine cents of each dollar of goods that the US sold in China. USDA data shows that the Asian country monopolizes Something more than 40% of the Total US Soy Sales. A percentage: 135%. That is the rise of tariffs that will have to deal with that huge flow of American grain to China from now on. The percentage is the sum of two increases: the 10% imposed by Beijing in March to the importation of certain agricultural products and The extra 125% With which, already in recent weeks, he responded to the escalation of the commercial war with the US. The question they leave by driving those rise in levies is obvious: how will it affect the flow of American soybeans? Will it remain attractive to the Chinese market with that 135% rates? The issue has generated expectation between The analysts And of course Farmers worry From the US, a good part of them installed in states that, such as Iowa, Indiana or Ohio, are important soy producers and last November they voted for Donald Trump. “We deal with bad weather, pests, tractor breakdowns,” he lamented recently Heather Feuerstein, owner of a Tnyt Michigan farm. To all these challenges are now added tariffs, which in their opinion suppose “a threat” for their way of life. One date: 2017. While the tariff pulse with which he has started 2025 is being particularly intense, it is not the first time that Feuerstein and the rest of his colleagues are seen in a similar situation. Years ago, during his first presidential mandate, Trump has already started a commercial war with China that fully affected soy exports. As? Leading Beijing to bet on other suppliers and reducing the flow of grain ‘made in USA’. Nikkei precise which in 2017 was behind almost 40% of Chinese imports. Although the commercial flow remains high, in 2024 that figure was already 20%. Recently the CNN elaborated A detailed graph in which it shows that between 2017 and 2018 the US soybeans exports to China foster from 31.7 million metric tons to 8.24. Since then the flow has been recovered until it is located at 27.2 last year, although the data remains below the one registered before Trump’s first mandate. In general, from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) esteem that the commercial war caused direct losses to the US agricultural exports that exceeded the 27,000 million of dollars between 2018 and 2019. A country: Brazil. Every war has its winners. And the commercial open years between the US and China has a very clear one if we talk about soybean trade: Brazil. He same graph The CNN shows that as US exports lost bellows those of Brazilian grain shot. From 2016 to 2018 the flow destined for China rose to 68.6 million metric tons and in 2024 the 72.5 million tons were exceeded, well above the US export levels. In general, it is estimated that in recent years China increased 35% Its annual imports of Brazilian soybeans while they reduced the Americans by 14%. If the growth is ever seen the growth was Very superior. What does that mean? That in 2017, Brazilian soybeans supposed about 50% of its imports for China, now Round and 70%. A reflection “will have to acquire more”: “If you can’t get it from the United States, you will have to acquire more than Brazil. And they will have to pay more,” Comment to Tnyt Neusa Lopes, agricultural tour directive, an outstanding soy producer of the state of Mato Grosso, in Brazil. The truth is that the commercial war comes after, at the end of 2024, XI made a state visit to Brazil to strengthen ties between the two countries and the Brazilian Association of Soy Producers I confirmed recently that at the beginning of the month the Asian giant signed contracts for millions of tons of grain. Beyond Brazil, There are analysts They point out that Beijing could rely on Argentina, Another great producer. Between what happened eight years ago and the current scenario there is however An important difference. After years of commercial flow between China and Brazil, today the first one has much easier to stock up on the crops of the South American country. The Asian giant has invested in warehouses, railways, ports and other infrastructure that facilitates the transfer of Brazilian soybeans in Chinese ships. The clearest example is the great open terminal this year in the … Read more

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