On one hand, I really really want Soylent to be successful; it would solve so many problems if we had a ubiquitous, cheap, and above all else <i>effective</i> meal replacement option.<p>On the other hand, I can't shake the feeling that it's not going to. Even reading this article, my suspicions flared up a few times (I thought invoking McDonalds was strange, and most of his points about nutrition and consumption seemed off-base.) Maybe it's years and years of pseudoscience taking its toll on me, I dunno.<p>At the very least, I'm interested to see where things are headed.
<i>Sounds pretty wild. What's next for the smoothie that Gawker said "looks just like semen"?</i><p>The color is a bit problematic in that respect. He should just put in a little coloring. I suggest green.
An overlooked consequence of long-term replacement of solids with liquids for nutrition is the fact that dentition is going to most likely change, I'm referring especially to teeth position.<p>Daily chewing is applying pressure to teeth and keeping them 'set' in the position you're familiar with.<p>While researching some wisdom tooth extraction possible long-term side effects, I was surprised to find out how much can teeth migrate, start receding etc. if one is not able to chew on both sides for example.<p>I don't remember the source(s), but I saw real pictures of people with this problem. There were multiple causes too, not just as a consequence of extractions gone wrong.<p>A lot of people are focusing on the issue of meeting nutritional requirements, but I'm curious on seeing a real dentist's opinion on the possible long-term effects of such a diet as well.
Doesn't someone already own the trademark for Soylent? Here is Rob's trademark application dated February 21, 2013: <a href="http://www.markhound.com/trademark/search/sBxK5WeM7" rel="nofollow">http://www.markhound.com/trademark/search/sBxK5WeM7</a> It seems (to me) incredibly unlikely that someone hasn't already at least tried to trademark it for use in protein shakes or other foodstuffs. And whoever owns the rights to the movie Soylent Green might want to have a word with him if his food supplement ever becomes popular.
It's interesting to see an industry traditionally dominated by marketing/advertising being taken on from the perspective of engineering. I have a strong suspicion that the management team isn't right for the long term and if they really hope to compete in the food industry or supplement industry they will have to get bought out.<p>I was a bit surprised when I tracked down the price - $65-$75 for a weeks supply means $10+ per day. Although I cannot imagine replacing my entire diet with this I could see supplementing or replacing the occasional individual meal. IMO, the price would have to come down from $10 for that to be reasonable.
I think the digestive track adapts to what you eat. If you eat only this for a while you may have issues digesting other things down the road. At least this is my anecdotal experience with eating the same damn thing as a student.
I don't get the appeal to those of us w/ easy access to a wide variety of inexpensive, high-quality foods stuffs. Eating a varied diet is one of life's great joys, not a problem that needs to be solved.<p>Even if you want to avoid the joy of eating, isn't Ensure Complete Vanilla already a sufficient meal-replacement-that-looks-like-seminal-fluid drink?
Nobody noticed this but Soylent actually made its debut in the matrix.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oEnJfZ9joY" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oEnJfZ9joY</a><p>Truly the food of the future. (controlled by machines.)