Soy Milk


Soy milk is a high protein, iron-rich milky liquid produced from pressing ground, cooked soybeans. Creamy white soy milk resembles cow's milk but in fact differs from its dairy counterpart in a number of ways. Not only is it higher in protein and iron content, but it is cholesterol-free, low fat, and low sodium. It is, however, lower in calcium and must be fortified with calcium when given to growing children. Those who are allergic to cow's milk or are unable to digest lactose, the natural sugar found in cow's milk, find soy milk easy to digest since it is lactose-free. Those who are calorie-conscious can purchase reduced fat soy milk (called lite soy milk) but this is often lower in protein as well. Some do not enjoy the taste of original soy milk, so manufacturers now offer flavored soy milk. Soy milk can be substituted for milk in nearly any recipe. Those who merely want to boost protein intake often add powdered soy milk to other beverages; others find it economical to purchase it in powder form and then make soy milk when they add water to the powder. Children under one year of age should be given a formula of soy milk specifically developed with their nutritional needs in mind. Soy milk that is intentionally curdled is known as tofu.


The soybean (Glycine max) is the world's foremost provider of protein and oil. The Chinese have been cultivating soybeans for thousands of years. The first written record of Chinese cultivation dates to the third century B.C. Many believe that the Chinese have been making soy milk for centuries—it has been sold in cafes and from street vendors for generations. So important to the Chinese are soybeans for the production of soy milk and tofu that soybeans are considered one of the five sacred grains along with rice, wheat, barley, and millet. Soybeans made their way to Japan by the sixth century and to Europe by the seventeenth century.

The beans came to the United States on ships from Asia and were used as ballast and often discarded once the ships docked. But soldiers during the Civil War substituted soy beans for coffee beans and were thus making their own form of soy beverage. By the nineteenth century, soy beverages were available in Europe as well.

However, the popularity of soybean products, including soy milk, came slowly to the United States. African-American agriculturist George Washington Carver began studying the soybean and touting its nutritive value in the early twentieth century. Shortly thereafter, doctors became intrigued with their use for its nutritional value, particularly for children unable to drink cow's milk. Soybean production has increased in the United States throughout the twentieth century and is a staple crop for many midwestern farmers, allowing soy milk producers a steady supply of the main ingredient. Soybeans are grown in 29 states and are our second largest cash crop.

Until the 1950s, soy milk was made in small quantities at home or in small shops and was not produced on a mass scale in this country. At this time, soy milk was bottled like soft drinks. Much of the technology now used in the production of soy milk was developed by the Japanese who use soy beverages (and other soy products) in tremendous quantities. In the 1970s, when interest in soy and other non-dairy products soared, manufacturers began adding flavors to the bland soy milk. Shortly thereafter, the development of aseptic packaging (in which the milk is packaged in such a way that no air is introduced which can contain harmful bacteria) brought the beverage into the modern era.

Raw Materials

Soy milk requires only soybeans and water (and steam) for its creation. Soy milk is nearly always fortified with calcium, vitamins D, and certain B vitamins. Highly concentrated flavorings, such as vanilla, carob, chocolate, and almond are often added to the finished product. Many companies add sugar and salt to the drink to make it more palatable to the consumer.

The Manufacturing

The soybean is a low acid food and as such, is a good host for the breeding of harmful bacteria. Thus, the manufacturing process is "aseptic," meaning that at a certain point in its production, the soy milk is sealed off from any air because it might introduce dangerous bacteria into the product. The development of successful, affordable aseptic production of soy milk has been of tremendous importance in the mass production of this beverage. The initial phases of the production of soy milk do not have to be sealed off to air; only later does this happen.

Procuring the raw materials


Invalidating the indigestible

Rough grinding

Finer grinding



Aseptic sterilizing





Quality Control

Quality control begins with acquiring high quality soybean for the production of soy milk. The beans considered most desirable for the process are called clear hylem, with a white (or colorless) hylem on the body of the bean. While the soybean is generally bland, the clear hylem variety is considered more flavorful. A number of soy milk producers market their product as organic and beans purchased from farmers for soy milk must be certified organic in order to be utilized.

The production of soy milk must be meticulously monitored to ensure that no bacteria grows in the low acid medium. Thus, many factories include over 206 quality control checkpoints in this production. Temperatures of water, steam, and the monitoring of pressure is essential in this process. In addition, the product is constantly analyzed as a sample of the product is taken off the line every 10 minutes and checked for pH, temperature, and bacterial growth (many samples are cultured). Because the product is sealed off from the workers for much of the production, visual checks occur primarily as the product comes off the line. Here, workers check to ensure packages are properly sealed.


Until recently, the unusable okara was a significant waste problem for many soy milk production plants. Okara, the insoluble fiber that is removed from the raw soy Now, soy milk producers send the okara to a drying machine which takes the moisture out of the okara, transforming it into a high-fiber, high-protein animal feed. The dried okara is now sold to farmers for feed, thus eliminating a storage and waste problem at most soy milk plants. It has proven to be invaluable to farmers who raise organically fed animals because many soy milk producers only take in organically grown soybeans. Thus, the dried okara feed produced from these beans is considered organic and acceptable for feed.

Where to Learn More


Herbst, Sharon Tyler. Food Lover's Companion. Barron's Educational Services, Inc.


Eden Foods. "History of Soy Beverages." Clinton, MI: Eden Foods, 1997.

Eden Foods. "Soy Beverage Manufacturing Process." Clinton, MI: Eden Foods, 1997.

Guelph Food Technology Centre. (June 29, 1999).

U.S. Soyfoods Directory. (June 29, 1999).

Nancy EV Bryk

Also read article about Soy Milk from Wikipedia

User Contributions:

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Nov 3, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
good information and can be right reference for new soy milk developer. thanks
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Jan 5, 2010 @ 2:02 am
i want to know about soya milk production i want to set up the plant of soya milk please guidence me about this
Julie B.
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Aug 20, 2012 @ 5:17 pm
Hi, I need to know what are Carragenan and Palmitate?
I get my soymilk in East Los Angeles, CA and I read that those substances are contained in my soymilk. I don't know what those words mean

Also, the soymilk that you sell, is it pure soymilk or combined with cow milk?

Thanks a lot in advance.
