Ingredients A–ZFlours, grains and beansChecked 2026-09-30
Soybeans 大豆
Food ingredientUsed in 7 products on this site
A bean that is the raw material for soy sauce, miso, tofu, natto, and more.
How it appears on labels
| On the label (Japanese) | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 大豆 | soybean |
| 大豆（国産、遺伝子組換えでない） | soybean (Japan-grown, “遺伝子組換えでない” non-GM) |
| 脱脂加工大豆 | defatted processed soybean |
| 脱脂大豆 | defatted soybean |
Labeling rules
- Soybean is a crop subject to GM labeling. For the designated processed foods (Appended Table 17) such as tofu, natto, soy milk, miso, and kinako (roasted soybean flour), the label must say “遺伝子組換え” (GM) if GM soybeans are segregated and used, and “遺伝子組換え不分別” (GM not segregated) if they are not segregated.
- “遺伝子組換えでない” (non-GM) can be written only when the soybeans are managed separately and found to have no GM contamination (Article 3 of the Food Labeling Standards). This rule has applied since April 2023.
- Soy sauce and soybean oil are not in Appended Table 17, so GM labeling is not mandatory for them.
- Soybean is one of the allergens recommended for labeling (those that fall under “特定原材料に準ずるもの”).
- The Consumer Affairs Agency's Q&A on the Food Labeling Standards (F-1) accepts “大豆油” (soybean oil) and “脱脂大豆” (defatted soybean) as notations that show soybean is used (the expanded alternative notation).
- Defatted soybean is soybean with the fat (oil) removed. For GM labeling, it is thought that products whose main ingredient is defatted soybean also fall under “products whose main ingredient is soy protein” (Appended Table 17) (the Consumer Affairs Agency's Q&A, GM-22).
Good to know
- The soy sauce on this site (丸中醸造, Marunaka Jozo) is labeled “大豆（国産、遺伝子組換えでない）” (soybeans (Japan-grown, non-GM)). The origin is written because soybean is the first ingredient by weight.
- Three House Foods curry roux products list “脱脂大豆” (defatted soybean) and carry no statement about GM. Defatted soybean is 7th (Java Curry), 12th (Kokumaro Curry), and 8th (Vermont Curry) by weight. The “main ingredients” to which the GM labeling obligation applies are those within the top 3 by weight and 5% or more of the whole (Article 3 of the Food Labeling Standards).
- In the Standard Tables, Japan-grown yellow soybean (dried) has 33.8 g of protein and 19.7 g of fat per 100 g.
Food composition data
| Soybean (per 100 g) | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Fat (g) | Carbohydrate (g) | Salt equivalent (g) | Dietary fiber (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow soybean, Japan-grown, driedFood No. 04023 | 372 | 33.8 | 19.7 | 29.5 | 0 | 21.5 |
Per 100 g of the edible portion. Source: MEXT, Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan (8th revised edition, 2023 supplement).
Products on this site that contain it
| Product | As written on the label |
|---|---|
| ジャワカレー 中辛ハウス食品 | 脱脂大豆（大豆：アメリカ産、セルビア産） |
| こくまろカレー 中辛ハウス食品 | 脱脂大豆（大豆：アメリカ産） |
| バーモントカレー 中辛ハウス食品 | 脱脂大豆（大豆：アメリカ産） |
| キッコーマン 特選 丸大豆しょうゆキッコーマン | 大豆（アメリカ（分別生産流通管理済み）） |
| 料亭の味（だし入り） 750gマルコメ | 大豆（アメリカ又はカナダ又はその他） |
| 有機トウバンジャン風と光 | 有機大豆 |
| 丸中醸造醤油（こいくちしょうゆ）丸中醤油 | 大豆（国産、遺伝子組換えでない） |
Product pages are in Japanese for now; each one reads every ingredient on the label.
Related pages
Sources
- Food Labeling Standards (Cabinet Office Ordinance No. 10 of 2015) — e-Gov Japanese Law Search
- Q&A on the Food Labeling Standards (revised March 28, 2025) — Consumer Affairs Agency
- Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan (8th revised edition, 2023 supplement) — MEXT
Sources are in Japanese unless noted otherwise. This page is a translation of our Japanese page; if they differ, the Japanese page is the reference.
This page lists facts stated in laws and in standards of public bodies and industry associations. It does not judge whether an ingredient or product is good or bad. If you have a food allergy, always check the label on the package.