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{{About|a powdered meal replacement mix|other uses |Soylent (disambiguation)}}
{{Short description|American brand of meal replacement products}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox food
{{Infobox company
| name = Soylent
| image = File:Soylent drink.jpg
| name = Soylent Nutrition, Inc.
| logo = Soylent.svg
| caption = Soylent powder prepared as a drink
| type = [[Privately held company]]
| country = [[United States]]
| region = [[North America]]
| industry = [[Meal replacement]]
| founded = {{start date and age|2013}}
| national_cuisine =
| creator = Rob Rhinehart
| founder = Rob Rhinehart
| hq_location_city = [[Los Angeles]], California<ref>{{cite web | url=https://officesnapshots.com/2019/05/20/soylent-offices-los-angeles/ | title=Soylent Offices – Los Angeles | date=May 20, 2019 }}</ref>
| year = 2013
| hq_location_country = United States
| mintime =
| area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = -->
| maxtime =
| key_people = Demir Vangelov ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])
| type = Powder prepared as a drink
| products = Soylent
| course = Main course
| owner = <!-- or: | owners = -->
| served = Refrigerated or room temperature
| num_employees =
| main_ingredient = '''1.5''':<ref name="files.soylent.com">[http://files.soylent.com/pdf/soylent-nutrition-facts.pdf Soylent Nutrition Facts]. Retrieved 1 June 2015.</ref> Rice Protein, Oat Flour, Omega-3 Fatty Acids extracted from Algae
| num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) -->
| minor_ingredient = '''1.5''':<ref name="files.soylent.com"/> Rice Starch, Modified Food Starch, Soy Lecithin, Cellulose, Salt, Canola and Oleic Sunflower Oil, life'sDHA Oil Powder, Xanthan Gum, Sucralose
| website = {{URL|soylent.com}}
| variations =
| serving_size = 500 ml
| calories = '''1.5''': 500
| calories_ref = <ref name="files.soylent.com"/>
| protein = 20
| fat = 23
| carbohydrate = 57
| glycemic_index = 65
| similar_dish =
| other =
| complexity =
}}
}}


'''Soylent''' is a set of [[meal replacement]] products in powder, [[health shake|shake]], and bar forms, produced by Soylent Nutrition, Inc. The company was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in [[Los Angeles, California]].
'''Soylent''' is a powdered [[meal replacement]] product, advertised as a "staple meal". Its creators state that Soylent meets all [[nutritional requirements]] for an average adult. Soylent was first created and tested by software engineer Rob Rhinehart as a self-experiment in nutrition. Subsequently, Soylent was developed into the first product line of the company Rosa Labs, who currently markets and sells the formulation. Rosa Labs states that the current formulation is based on recommendations of the [[Institute of Medicine]]<ref>[http://faq.soylent.com/hc/en-us/articles/200789315-Nutrition Nutrition - Soylent]. Retrieved 10 June 2015.</ref> and that Soylent meets the current [[Food and Drug Administration]] requirements to be sold as a food.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/01/soylent-gets-tested-scores-a-surprisingly-wholesome-nutritional-label/|title=Soylent gets tested, scores a surprisingly wholesome nutritional label|first=Lee|last=Hutchinson|work=Ars Technica|date=29 January 2014|accessdate=11 June 2015|quote=However, the results of the nutrition testing done to gain the label have established that Soylent meets the Food and Drug Administration's standards for a whole raft of healthy claims: "Everything from reduced risk of heart disease and some cancers to absence of tooth decay," said Rhinehart. Based on the testing, he explained, Soylent can make many of the health and nutrient claims that the FDA tracks.}}</ref> Rosa Labs also states that Soylent includes all of the elements of a healthy diet, without excess amounts of sugars, saturated fats, or cholesterol.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://faq.soylent.com/hc/en-us/articles/200836809-What-is-Soylent-|title=What is Soylent?|work=Soylent}}</ref>


Soylent is named after an industrially produced food (the name of which is a portmanteau of "soy" and "lentil") in ''[[Make Room! Make Room!]]'', a 1966 [[dystopian]] [[science fiction]] novel (which was the basis of the 1973 film ''[[Soylent Green]]'') that explores the theme of resource shortages in the context of overpopulation.
== History ==
On February 13, 2013 Rhinehart detailed his initial 30-day experiment in food replacement<ref>[http://robrhinehart.com/?p=298 How I Stopped Eating Food]. Feb 13, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2015</ref> on his blog before later sharing the nutritional information and original formula<ref>[http://robrhinehart.com/?p=424 What's in Soylent] Feb 14, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2015</ref> for interested parties. Posts to his blog over the next two months detailed modifications to his personal formula.


The company developed a following initially in [[Silicon Valley]] and received early financial backing from [[GV (company)|GV]], the investment arm of [[Alphabet, Inc.]], and venture capital firm [[Andreessen Horowitz]]. In 2021, Soylent announced that it had become profitable starting in 2020.<ref name="Yahoo">{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/soylent-once-beverage-tech-bros-143516284.html |first=Beth |last=Kowitt |title=Soylent, once the beverage of tech bros, finds a new audience|website=finance.yahoo.com|date=July 28, 2021 |access-date=March 21, 2022|archive-date=March 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312224614/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/soylent-once-beverage-tech-bros-143516284.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
These modifications led to a [[crowdfunding]] campaign on [[Tilt.com|Tilt]] that raised over US$3 million<ref name="Scutti"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://crowdtilt.soylent.me/soylent-free-your-body|website=Tilt.com|title=Soylent - Free Your Body|publisher=Tilt.com|accessdate=16 June 2015}}</ref> aimed at moving the powdered drink from concept into production. As of 2015, this crowdfunding campaign remains the [[List of highest funded crowdfunding projects|most funded food-related crowdfunding project]] ever accomplished. After the campaign, Soylent had [[venture capital financing]] for a seed round of $1.5 million<ref>[http://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2013/10/24870-crowdfunding-darling-soylent-nets-1-5-million-vc-funding/ Crowdfunding Darling Soylent Nets $1.5 Million In VC Funding]. October 22, 2013</ref> to further develop [[proof of concept]]. Media reports have detailed how operations began for Rosa Labs in April 2014, using a relatively small US$500 system to ship the first US$2.6 million worth of product.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/@alando46/how-we-spent-500-on-tech-to-ship-2-6m-of-soylent-3abfdcebee78|title=How We Spent $500 on Tech to Ship $2.6M of Soylent|author=Alando Ballantyne|work=Medium}}</ref> In January 2015, Soylent received $20 million in [[Series A round]] funding, led by venture capital firm [[Andreessen Horowitz]].<ref>[http://robrhinehart.com/?p=1192 Soylent Raises Money]. Retrieved 22 January 2015.</ref>


{{TOC limit|3}}
Prior to June 2015, Soylent was only available for purchase and shipment to those in the United States. On June 15, 2015, it was announced that Soylent would begin shipping to [[Canada]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.soylent.com/post/121573571522/now-shipping-to-canada|title=Soylent : Now Shipping to Canada|work=soylent.com}}</ref> at the same price in US dollars as for United States customers. Expansion to [[European countries]] is a stated future goal.


==History==
In July 2015, it was announced that Soylent would move its [[corporate headquarters]] to Broadway Media Center, located in [[downtown Los Angeles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.us.jll.com/united-states/en-us/news/3522/soylent-to-relocate-headquarters-to-broadway-media-center-in-downtown-los-angeles|title=Soylent To Relocate Headquarters to Broadway Media Center in Downtown Los Angeles|work=JLL}}</ref>
[[File:Soylent drink.jpg|thumb|A Soylent package, along with the powder and resulting drink]]


In January 2013, American software engineer Rob Rhinehart purchased 35 chemical ingredients—including potassium gluconate, calcium carbonate, monosodium phosphate, maltodextrin, and olive oil—all of which he deemed necessary for survival, based on his readings of biochemistry textbooks and U.S. government websites.<ref name="blog298">{{cite web |first=Rob |last=Rhinehart |url=http://robrhinehart.com/?p=298 |title=How I Stopped Eating Food |date=February 13, 2013 |access-date=April 4, 2015 |website=RobRhinehart.com |archive-date=May 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514123511/http://robrhinehart.com/?p=298 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Widdicombe">{{cite magazine |first=Lizzie |last=Widdicombe |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/05/12/the-end-of-food|title=The End of Food|date=May 12, 2014|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=February 9, 2018|archive-date=July 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724075842/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/05/12/the-end-of-food|url-status=live}}</ref> Rhinehart used to view food as a time-consuming hassle and had resolved to treat it as an engineering problem. He blended the ingredients with water and consumed only this drink for the next thirty days. Over the course of the next two months, he adjusted the proportions of the ingredients to counter various health issues and further refined the formula.<ref name="blog298" /><ref name="Storr">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/active/10032594/The-man-who-lives-without-food.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508202818/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/active/10032594/The-man-who-lives-without-food.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2013|title=The man who lives without food|author=Storr, Will|date=May 6, 2013|work=The Telegraph|access-date=May 13, 2013|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-07/could-liquid-replace-food|title=Could This Liquid Replace Food?|last=Hannan|first=Caleb|date=July 18, 2013|work=Popular Science|access-date=February 9, 2018|archive-date=September 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904155233/http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-07/could-liquid-replace-food|url-status=live}}</ref> Rhinehart claimed a host of health benefits from the drink and noted that it had greatly reduced his monthly food bill, which fell from about US$470 to $155, and the time spent behind the preparation and consumption of food while providing him greater control over his nutrition.<ref name=blog298/>
===Product history===


Rhinehart's blog posts about his experiment attracted attention on [[Hacker News]],<ref name=Widdicombe/><ref name="Johnson">{{cite news | url=https://www.thedieline.com/blog/2017/2/27/the-fascinating-start-to-future-food-brand-soylent-part-2 | title=The Fascinating Start to Future Food Brand Soylent | work=The Dieline | date=March 14, 2017 | access-date=February 9, 2018 | author=Johnson, Theresa Christine | archive-date=February 10, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210062302/http://www.thedieline.com/blog/2017/2/27/the-fascinating-start-to-future-food-brand-soylent-part-2 | url-status=live }}</ref> eventually leading to a [[crowdfunding]] campaign on [[Tilt.com|Tilt]] that raised about $1.5&nbsp;million in preorders<ref name=Infusion>{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/10/soylent-gets-a-1-5-million-infusion-of-venture-capital/ |title=Soylent gets a $1.5 million infusion of venture capital |first=Lee |last=Hutchinson |work=[[Ars Technica]] |date=October 21, 2013 |access-date=February 6, 2017 |archive-date=February 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206110840/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/10/soylent-gets-a-1-5-million-infusion-of-venture-capital/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Luzar |first=Charles |date=October 22, 2013 |title=Crowdfunding Darling Soylent Nets $1.5 Million in VC Funding |url=https://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2013/10/24870-crowdfunding-darling-soylent-nets-1-5-million-vc-funding/ }}</ref> aimed at moving the powdered drink from concept into production. Media reports detailed how operations began for Soylent Nutrition, Inc., in April 2014, using a relatively small $500 system to ship the first $2.6&nbsp;million worth of product.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/@alando46/how-we-spent-500-on-tech-to-ship-2-6m-of-soylent-3abfdcebee78|title=How We Spent $500 on Tech to Ship $2.6M of Soylent|date=June 3, 2015|first=Alando|last=Ballantyne|work=[[Medium (website)|Medium.com]]|access-date=June 28, 2015|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306092655/https://medium.com/@alando46/how-we-spent-500-on-tech-to-ship-2-6m-of-soylent-3abfdcebee78|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2015, Soylent received $20&nbsp;million in [[Series A round]] funding, led by venture capital firm [[Andreessen Horowitz]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://robrhinehart.com/?p=1192 |title=Soylent Raises Money |website=Rob Rhinehart personal blog |date=January 14, 2015 |access-date=January 22, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121163816/http://robrhinehart.com/?p=1192 |archive-date=January 21, 2015 }}</ref> In 2017, the company raised $50&nbsp;million in venture funding.<ref name=TechCrunch2023 /> In 2023, Soylent was acquired by Starco Foods, the third Starco acquisition in six months.<ref name=TechCrunch2023>{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Christine |title=Soylent acquired by Starco Brands as nutrition company shifts into its 'natural next stage' |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/02/21/soylent-acquired-starco-brands-nutrition/ |work=TechCrunch |date=February 21, 2023 |access-date=October 7, 2024 }}</ref>
In the first week of May 2014, the first shipments of U.S. orders of Soylent 1.0 began.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://discourse.soylent.me/t/soylent-update-5-1/12590 |title=Soylent Update |publisher=Discourse.soylent.me |date= May 1, 2014 |accessdate=2014-05-06}}</ref> There have been subsequent changes, each called a new "version". Since Soylent 1.2 in November 2014, all versions have been vegan.<ref name="Announcing Soylent 1.2">{{cite web|url=http://blog.soylent.me/post/102285900727/announcing-soylent-1-2-development-of-the-soylent|title=Soylent : Announcing Soylent 1.2 Development of the Soylent...|work=soylent.me}}</ref> Version 1.4, introduced in February 2015, used a carbohydrate/fat/protein ratio of 43/40/17, made so considering the advice of F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer, M.D., a professor of medicine at [[Columbia University]].<ref>[http://discourse.soylent.me/t/nutrition-advisor-for-soylent/19994 Nutrition advisor for Soylent]. 16 March 2015.</ref> Version 1.5, introduced in June 2015, further adjusted the ratio to 45/40/15,<ref name="blog.soylent.com">{{cite web|url=http://blog.soylent.com/post/120465411252/soylent-1-5-has-arrived|title=Soylent : Soylent 1.5 Has Arrived|work=soylent.com}}</ref> and has a [[glycemic index]] of 65 and a [[glycemic load]] of 35.<ref name="soylent glycemic">{{cite web|url=http://faq.soylent.com/hc/en-us/articles/204819889|title=Soylent Glycemic Data|work=Soylent}}</ref>


Soylent is named after a food in [[Harry Harrison (writer)|Harry Harrison]]'s 1966 [[science fiction]] [[novel]], ''[[Make Room! Make Room!]]''<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/14272/20130315/rob-rhinehart-24-creates-soylent-why-never-food-bolemia-diet-weight-exercise-health-nutrition-eating.htm | title=Rob Rhinehart, 24, Creates Soylent: Why You Never Have To Eat Food Again | work=Medical Daily | date=March 15, 2013 | access-date=May 13, 2013 | author=Varughese, Ansa | archive-date=May 12, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512002032/http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/14272/20130315/rob-rhinehart-24-creates-soylent-why-never-food-bolemia-diet-weight-exercise-health-nutrition-eating.htm | url-status=live }}</ref> In the book, most types of "soylent" are made from [[Soybean|soy]] and [[lentil]]s, hence the name of the product, a combination of "soy" and "lent". The word also evokes the 1973 film adaptation, ''[[Soylent Green]]'', in which the eponymous food is made from human remains.<ref name=Widdicombe/> Rhinehart has said he chose the name, with its morbid associations, to pique curiosity and deeper investigation, since the name was clearly not chosen with a traditionally "flashy" marketing scheme in mind.<ref name=HutchDoesSoylent/>
On August 3, 2015, the company announced "Soylent 2.0," which is the first ready-to-drink Soylent product introduced by the company. The pre-mixed product will come in a 400 calorie recyclable bottle and is planned to debut in October of 2015.<ref name="arstechnica.com">{{cite web|url=http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/08/soylent-2-0-is-coming-pre-mixed-in-a-bottle/|title=Soylent 2.0 is coming—pre-mixed, in a bottle|work=Ars Technica}}</ref>


==Distribution==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
Soylent was available for purchase and shipment only within the United States until June 15, 2015, when it began shipping to Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.soylent.com/post/121573571522/now-shipping-to-canada|title=Soylent: Now Shipping to Canada|date=June 15, 2015|website=Soylent Blog|access-date=June 28, 2015|archive-date=June 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618014259/http://blog.soylent.com/post/121573571522/now-shipping-to-canada|url-status=dead}}</ref> In October 2017, Canada disallowed further shipments due to a failure to meet food regulations on meal replacements;<ref>{{cite news|title=Meal replacement company Soylent has imports blocked in Canada|first=Maija|last=Kappler|date=October 25, 2017|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/meal-replacement-company-soylent-has-imports-blocked-in-canada-1.3648234|work=[[CTV News]]|location=Toronto|access-date=October 25, 2017|archive-date=October 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025165335/http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/meal-replacement-company-soylent-has-imports-blocked-in-canada-1.3648234|url-status=live}}</ref> shipments to Canada resumed in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 13, 2020 |title=Meal Replacement Startup Soylent Returns to Canada for First Time Since 2017 |first=Christina |last=Troitino |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinatroitino/2020/04/13/meal-replacement-startup-soylent-returns-to-canada-for-first-time-since-2017/#6f4cc8c55d59 |access-date=May 5, 2020 |website=forbes.com}}</ref>
|-
! Version
! Changes
! width="14%" | Date
|-
|style="text-align:center"|Soylent 1.0
|First full version. Ingredients were finalized in January 2014, which use rice as the protein source<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.soylent.me/post/73232819517/there-is-more-to-food-than-nutrition-even-a|title=Soylent : There is more to food than nutrition. Even a...|work=soylent.me}}</ref> and shipments began in April<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.soylent.me/post/83664297438/soylent-update-4-23|title=Soylent : Soylent Update 4/23|work=soylent.me}}</ref> (vegan) and May<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.soylent.me/post/84472994397/5-1-shipping-update|title=Soylent : 5/1 Shipping Update|work=soylent.me}}</ref> (regular) of 2014.
|Early 2014
|-
|style="text-align:center"|Soylent 1.1
|The [[sucralose]] was decreased, giving it a more neutral flavor, and new digestive enzymes were added.<ref>[http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/10/soylent-gets-a-version-bump-to-1-1-new-flavor-new-gut-flora-help/ Soylent gets a version bump to 1.1—new flavor, new gut flora help]. Retrieved 26 February 2015.</ref>
|October 2, 2014<ref name="Soylent 1.1">{{cite web|url=http://blog.soylent.me/post/98982202087/introducing-soylent-1-1|title=Soylent : Introducing Soylent 1.1|work=soylent.me}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|Soylent 1.2
|[[Omega-3 fatty acid]] from fish sources was replaced with omega-3 from [[algae]], making the drink suitable for [[vegans]] and the enzymes added in Soylent 1.1 were removed.<ref name="Announcing Soylent 1.2"/>
|November 10, 2014<ref name="Announcing Soylent 1.2"/>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|Soylent 1.3
|[[Dipotassium phosphate]] was added and shipping box sizes were reduced.<ref name="Soylent 1.3">[http://blog.soylent.me/post/104937168407/soylent-1-3-shipping-today-we-are-pleased-to Soylent 1.3 Shipping Today]. Retrieved 11 December 2014.</ref>
|December 11, 2014<ref name="Soylent 1.3"/>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|Soylent 1.4
|[[Fat]]s were incorporated into the powder which eliminated the need for the oil bottles, resulting in less packaging required in the shipping boxes and [[isomaltulose]] was added. [[Gum acacia]] was removed.<ref>[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9109371 Soylent 1.4 begins shipping today]. Retrieved 28 February 2015.</ref>
|February 25, 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.soylent.me/post/112067551237/soylent-1-4-begins-shipping-today|title=Soylent : Soylent 1.4 begins shipping today.|work=soylent.me}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|Soylent 1.5
|Improvements to texture from a reduction to oat flour and an addition of emulsifiers. Removal of powdered safflower and flaxseed oil which were both replaced by canola oil powder, supplementing the existing powdered high oleic sunflower oil and algal oil.<ref name="blog.soylent.com"/>
|June 1, 2015<ref name="blog.soylent.com"/>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|Soylent 2.0
|First pre-mixed Soylent liquid product and it alters the fat/carb/protein ratios to 47/33/20, which results in a glycemic index of 49.2 and a glycemic load of 16.7.<ref name="soylent glycemic"/> About half of the lipid calories come from algal sources and it uses soy for its protein source.<ref name="arstechnica.com"/>
|October 2015 (announced)<ref name="arstechnica.com"/>
|}


In July 2017, [[7-Eleven]] stores in and around Los Angeles became the first offline venues to sell Soylent.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/11/15951852/7-eleven-soylent-offline-sale-meal-in-bottle |date=July 11, 2017 |first=Thuy |last=Ong |title=Soylent is being sold offline for the first time|publisher=The Verge|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=July 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712023308/https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/11/15951852/7-eleven-soylent-offline-sale-meal-in-bottle|url-status=live}}</ref> By April 2018, the product was sold in over 8,000 U.S. 7-Elevens and was available at [[Walmart]], [[Target Corporation|Target]], [[Kroger]], and [[Meijer]].<ref>{{Cite web |first=Sarah |last=Gray |url=https://fortune.com/2018/04/11/soylent-meal-replacement-drinks-walmart/ |date=April 11, 2018 |title=Soylent Meal Replacement Drinks Are Coming to Walmart |website=Fortune |access-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-date=March 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312224614/https://fortune.com/2018/04/11/soylent-meal-replacement-drinks-walmart/ |url-status=live}}</ref> By 2021, over 28,000 retail stores carried Soylent.<ref name=TechCrunch2023 />
== Name ==
The product's name is based on [[Harry Harrison (writer)|Harry Harrison]]'s 1966 [[science fiction]] [[novel]] ''[[Make Room! Make Room!]]'' in which the food product derives from [[soya bean|soya]] and [[lentil]]s. The term is, however, commonly associated with its 1973 film adaptation ''[[Soylent Green]]'', in which the eponymous food supplement is made from human remains.<ref name=Varughese /><!--- Inline cites are required for challenged info. If you wish to challenge this info, PLEASE take it to the talk page. Remember to sign your comment. --->


== Cost ==
==Health effects==
The makers of Soylent claim it contains the nutrients necessary for a healthy lifestyle.<ref name="GetsTested">{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/01/soylent-gets-tested-scores-a-surprisingly-wholesome-nutritional-label/|title=Soylent gets tested, scores a surprisingly wholesome nutritional label|last=Hutchinson|first=Lee|date=January 29, 2014|work=Ars Technica|access-date=June 11, 2015|quote=However, nutrition testing done to gain the label established that Soylent meets the Food and Drug Administration's standards for a whole raft of healthy claims: 'Everything from reduced risk of heart disease and some cancers to absence of tooth decay', said Rhinehart. Based on the testing, he explained, Soylent can make many of the health and nutrient claims that the FDA tracks.|archive-date=June 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613024801/http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/01/soylent-gets-tested-scores-a-surprisingly-wholesome-nutritional-label/|url-status=live}}</ref> Some people have experienced gastrointestinal problems from consumption of Soylent, particularly [[flatulence]].<ref name="Manjoo">{{citation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/29/technology/personaltech/the-soylent-revolution-will-not-be-pleasurable.html |title=The Soylent Revolution Will Not Be Pleasurable |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 28, 2014 |last=Manjoo |first=Farhad |access-date=March 3, 2017 |archive-date=February 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215165754/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/29/technology/personaltech/the-soylent-revolution-will-not-be-pleasurable.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="verge" />
In April 2013, Rhinehart said he was spending US$154.62 per month on Soylent, yielding a diet of {{convert|11,000|kJ|kcal|lk=in}} per day<ref name=Pomeroy/> while a diet of medical food such as Jevity would cost US$456 per month for {{convert|8,400|kJ|kcal}}.<ref name=Matthews/>


===Lead and cadmium content===
Soylent 1.0, which began shipping commercially in May 2014, was supplied in quantities of 7, 14, or 28 bags, with one bag providing "3+" meals.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hutchinson |first=Lee |url=http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/09/ars-does-soylent-the-finale-soylent-dreams-for-people/ |title=Ars does Soylent, the finale: Soylent dreams for people |publisher=Ars Technica |date=September 5, 2013 |accessdate=2014-05-06}}</ref> {{As of|2015|7}} Soylent version 1.5 powder was available in the US and Canada for US$85 for 7 bags, with a reduced price for larger quantities or having a monthly subscription.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.soylent.me/post/84876359012/soylent-website-launch |title=Soylent Website Launch |publisher=Soylent |date=May 5, 2014 |accessdate=2014-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soylent.me/#/|title=Soylent - Free Your Body|work=Soylent}}</ref> The lowest cost-per-meal option is the monthly subscription at a cost of US$280 for 28 bags, which calculates to US$10 per day, US$2.50 per meal (at recommended serving size of 4 meals/day), or $3.33 (3 meals/day). The tag line on Soylent's main website states "A full day of balanced nutrition made in 3 minutes for $3/meal."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soylent.com/|title=Soylent - Free Your Body|work=soylent.com}}</ref>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Soylent Proposition 65 Graphic.png|thumb|right|Comparison from the Soylent FAQ<ref name=soylentprop65/> on Proposition 65 chemicals in Soylent versus other foods.]] -->


On August 13, 2015, [[As You Sow]] filed a notice of intent to pursue a lawsuit against the makers of Soylent, claiming that the company was in breach of California's [[California Proposition 65 (1986)|Proposition 65]] for not adequately labeling its product given the levels of [[lead]] and [[cadmium]] present in the drink.<ref name=eater>{{cite web|url=https://www.eater.com/2015/8/16/9162301/soylent-as-you-sow-cadmium-lead-california|title=Soylent Under Fire for Allegedly Failing to Provide Adequate Warnings on Its Labels|first=Brenna|last=Houck|work=Eater|date=August 16, 2015|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-date=August 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817124808/http://www.eater.com/2015/8/16/9162301/soylent-as-you-sow-cadmium-lead-california|url-status=live}}</ref> Although Soylent contains levels of lead and cadmium far below the national safety levels set by the FDA, it does contain 12 to 25 times the level of lead and 4 times the level of cadmium permitted in California without additional labeling.<ref name="eater" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/as-you-sow-files-notice-of-legal-action-against-soylent-super-food-300128427.html|website=PR News Wire|date=August 13, 2015|title=As You Sow Files Notice of Legal Action Against Soylent Super Food|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815182132/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/as-you-sow-files-notice-of-legal-action-against-soylent-super-food-300128427.html|archive-date=August 15, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> A lawyer who had worked on settlements of Proposition 65 suits described the case as "alarmist", as the levels are well below FDA limits of what is allowed in food products.<ref name=foodnav/> However, as Soylent is marketed as a complete meal replacement, many customers consume the drinks three times a day, equating to 36 to 75 times the lead and 12 times the level of cadmium without the Prop 65 label.<ref name="Westervelt">{{cite news|title=Heavy metals prove all too common in meal replacement products, says watchdog group|first=Amy|last=Westervelt|author-link=Amy Westervelt|date=August 18, 2015|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/aug/18/soylent-fda-heavy-metals-silicon-valley-as-you-sow|work=[[The Guardian]]|location=London|access-date=October 25, 2017|archive-date=October 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026002633/https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/aug/18/soylent-fda-heavy-metals-silicon-valley-as-you-sow|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Nutrition ==
[[File:Soylent.tif|thumb|right|A prepared glass of Soylent]]
The following summarizes the nutrition facts and ingredients for Soylent 1.5.<ref name="nutrition">{{cite web |url = http://files.soylent.com/pdf/soylent-nutrition-facts.pdf|title = Soylent 1.5 Nutrition Facts|work = Soylent|accessdate = 4 June 2015}}</ref> The nutrition facts are based on one serving of {{convert|115|g}}.<ref name="nutrition" /> Each Soylent pouch contains four servings.


Soylent's website displays the Proposition 65 warning required by California.<ref name=foodnav>{{cite web|url=https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Manufacturers/Soylent-hits-back-at-legal-threat-We-display-Prop-65-warnings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816004850/http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Manufacturers/Soylent-hits-back-at-legal-threat-We-display-Prop-65-warnings|archive-date=August 16, 2015|title=Soylent case reignites debate over Prop 65: 'It's basically extortion,' claims attorney|first=Elaine|last=Watson|date=August 17, 2015}}</ref> Soylent Nutrition, Inc. published the position that the levels of heavy metal content in Soylent "are in no way toxic, and Soylent remains completely safe and nutritious".<ref name=soylentprop65>{{Cite web|url=https://faq.soylent.com/hc/en-us/articles/204197379-California-Proposition-65|title=Soylent FAQ: California Proposition 65|access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-date=March 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331062740/https://faq.soylent.com/hc/en-us/articles/204197379-California-Proposition-65|url-status=dead}}</ref> The company also published an infographic and spreadsheet based on an FDA study of heavy metal content in common foods, comparing two selected example meals to servings of Soylent with a similar amount of caloric intake.
{| class="wikitable" style="float: left; margin-right: 2em;"
|+ Soylent 1.5 Nutrition Facts
|-
| Serving Size 115g || Servings per Container: 4
|-
| [[Calories]] || 500
|-
| Calories from fat || 200
|-
! scope="col" |
! scope="col" | Amount per Serving
! scope="col" | % Daily Value*
|-
| Total Fat || 23g || 35%
|-
| Saturated Fat || 2.5g || 13%
|-
| Trans Fat || 0g || N/A
|-
| Cholesterol || 0&nbsp;mg || 0%
|-
|Sodium || 360&nbsp;mg ||16%
|-
| Potassium || 866&nbsp;mg ||25%
|-
| Total Carbohydrate || 57g || 19%
|-
|Dietary Fiber ||3g|| 12%
|-
| Sugars || 15g ||
|-
|Protein || 20g||
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 80%; float: left;"
|+ Nutrition Facts (''continued'')
|-
!|
!colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"| % Daily Value
|-
| [[Vitamin A]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|25%
|-
| [[Vitamin C]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|37%
|-
| [[Calcium]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|30%
|-
| [[Iron]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|23%
|-
| [[Vitamin D]]
|style="text-align: center;"|26%
|-
| [[Vitamin E]]
|style="text-align: center;"|26%
|-
| [[Vitamin K]]
|style="text-align: center;"|28%
|-
| [[Thiamin]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|25%
|-
| [[Riboflavin]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|25%
|-
| [[Niacin]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|25%
|-
| [[Vitamin B6]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|25%
|-
| [[Folate]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|25%
|-
| [[Vitamin B12]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|25%
|-
| [[Biotin]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|25%
|-
| [[Pantothenic Acid]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|25%
|-
| [[Iodine]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|30%
|-
| [[Magnesium]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|23%
|-
| [[Zinc]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|25%
|-
| [[Selenium]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|25%
|-
| [[Copper]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|28%
|-
| [[Manganese]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|25%
|-
| [[Chromium#Biological role|Chromium]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|25%
|-
| [[Molybdenum#Human dietary intake and deficiency|Molybdenum]]
|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|25%
|}


===Product recalls===
<div style="clear: left;"></div>
In 2016, the company announced it would halt sales of the Soylent bar due to reports of [[Gastrointestinal disease|gastrointestinal illness]], including [[nausea]], vomiting, and diarrhea.<ref name="bars_halt">{{cite news|last1=Mole|first1=Beth|title=Soylent halts sale of bars; investigation into illnesses continues|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/10/soylent-halts-sale-of-bars-investigation-into-illnesses-continues/|access-date=October 13, 2016|publisher=[[Ars Technica]]|date=October 12, 2016|archive-date=October 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013024253/http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/10/soylent-halts-sale-of-bars-investigation-into-illnesses-continues/|url-status=live}}</ref> They asked customers to discard any unconsumed bars and offered full refunds.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lomas|first1=Natasha|title=Soylent Bars recalled after some customers get sick|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/13/soylent-bars-recalled-after-some-customers-get-sick/|access-date=October 13, 2016|work=TechCrunch|date=October 13, 2016|archive-date=October 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013155703/https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/13/soylent-bars-recalled-after-some-customers-get-sick/|url-status=live}}</ref> On October 21, 2016, the company triggered a product recall.


On October 27, 2016, they also halted sales of Soylent powder.<ref name="bloomberg-blame-algae">{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-07/soylent-thinks-it-found-what-was-making-people-sick-algae |first=Olivia |last=Zaleski |title=Soylent Thinks It Found What Was Making People Sick: Algae|date=November 7, 2016|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|access-date=December 17, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220190047/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-07/soylent-thinks-it-found-what-was-making-people-sick-algae|url-status=live}}</ref> The company said tests on the bar had not shown contamination{{Clarify|date=March 2022}} but also stated that some powder users had reported stomach-related symptoms.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lomas |first=Natasha |date=October 28, 2016 |title=Soylent pulls Powder as part of probe into customer sickness |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/28/soylent-pulls-powder-as-part-of-probe-into-customer-sickness/ |access-date=June 21, 2023 |website=TechCrunch}}</ref><ref name="latimesrecall">{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-soylent-recall-20161027-story.html|title=Soylent halts sales of its powder as customers keep getting sick|last=Dave|first=Paresh|date=October 27, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 28, 2016|archive-date=October 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028112018/http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-soylent-recall-20161027-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Taste ==


Soylent initially suspected [[soy]] or [[sucralose]] [[Food intolerance|intolerance]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/10/reports-of-violent-vomiting-diarrhea-from-bars-has-soylent-on-the-defense/|title=People get "violently ill" from Soylent bars; company stumped|last1=Mole|first1=Beth|date=October 12, 2016|access-date=October 13, 2016|publisher=Ars Technica|archive-date=October 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012233619/http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/10/reports-of-violent-vomiting-diarrhea-from-bars-has-soylent-on-the-defense/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, on November 7, 2016, the company instead blamed [[algae|algal flour]] for making people sick and said it planned to remove it from future formulations of the powders and bars,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Filloon |first=Whitney |date=November 7, 2016 |title=Soylent Blames Algae for Making Customers Violently Ill |url=https://www.eater.com/2016/11/7/13553610/soylent-sick-algae |access-date=July 28, 2022 |website=Eater}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/11/solved-algal-flour-was-causing-violent-illnesses-soylent-says/|title=Solved: Algal flour was causing violent illnesses, Soylent says|last1=Mole|first1=Beth|date=November 8, 2016|access-date=November 8, 2016|publisher=Ars Technica|archive-date=November 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108152516/http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/11/solved-algal-flour-was-causing-violent-illnesses-soylent-says/|url-status=live}}</ref> which it did in the next formulation, version 1.7, introduced on December 15, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Purbasari |first=Anisa |date=November 7, 2016 |title=Soylent blames algal flour for consumer complaints |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/11/7/13551080/soylent-algal-flour-meal-replacement-powder-bar-recall |access-date=June 21, 2023 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref name="soylent-blog-1.7">{{cite web|url=http://blog.soylent.com/post/154513593367/powder-17-now-shipping|title=Powder 1.7 Now Shipping|date=December 15, 2016|publisher=Soylent Nutrition, Inc.|access-date=December 16, 2016|archive-date=December 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216205401/http://blog.soylent.com/post/154513593367/powder-17-now-shipping|url-status=dead}}</ref> The drink-based products use algal oil, not algal flour, so were deemed to be safe for users.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}
Soylent contains [[soybean|soy]] [[lecithin]] and [[sucralose]] as [[flavor masker|masking flavors]] and to adjust appearance, texture and smell.<ref>{{cite web|title=There is more to food than nutrition|url=http://blog.soylent.me/post/73232819517/there-is-more-to-food-than-nutrition-even-a|accessdate=13 September 2014}}</ref> Rhinehart calls the flavor "minimal", "broad" and "nonspecific".<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.inc.com/amy-whyte/stephen-colbert-tries-liquid-food-substitute-soylent.html |title=Stephen Colbert Taste Tests Soylent... And Finds It Delicious? |work=[[Inc. (magazine)]] |date=June 13, 2014 |quote=Rhinehart described the "minimal flavor" as "broad" and "nonspecific"}}</ref> Before version 1.4, [[vanillin]] was included as an ingredient for flavoring.<ref>{{citation |url=http://blog.soylent.me/post/112067551237/soylent-1-4-begins-shipping-today |title=Soylent 1.4 begins shipping today. |accessdate=20 March 2015}}</ref>


==Reviews==
Reviews on the taste of Soylent vary widely. Positive reviewers were "pleasantly surprised" with the "rich, creamy, and strangely satisfying" flavor,<ref name=verge>{{citation |url=http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/17/5893221/soylent-survivor-one-month-living-on-lab-made-liquid-nourishment |title=Soylent survivor: one month living on lab-made liquid nourishment |work=[[The Verge]] |date=July 17, 2014 }}</ref> or likened it to that of a vanilla milkshake with the texture of pancake batter.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/soylent-review-2014-7|title=Soylent Review|work=[[Business Insider]]|date=July 14, 2014 }}</ref> Negative reviewers have called it a "punishingly boring, joyless product", "like someone wrung out a dishtowel into a glass",<ref>{{citation|url=http://gawker.com/we-drank-soylent-the-weird-food-of-the-future-510293401|title=We Drank Soylent The Weird Food of the Future|work=[[Gawker]]|date=May 19, 2013}}</ref> "purposefully bland", and compared the taste to "homemade nontoxic [[Play-Doh]]".<ref name=verge/><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/29/technology/personaltech/the-soylent-revolution-will-not-be-pleasurable.html |title=The Soylent Revolution Will Not Be Pleasurable |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 28, 2014 |last=Manjoo |first=Farhad }}</ref> Due to the way in which Soylent is released by version, slight taste variances are introduced in every subsequent version, leading to an updated taste profile.
{{Unbalanced|section|date=March 2022}}


Soylent has gone through multiple iterations since its release, which have significantly changed the flavor, texture, and nutritional ingredients.
==Proposed Proposition 65 lawsuit==
On August 13, 2015, non-profit environmental and corporate social responsibility watchdog [[As You Sow]] filed a notice of intent to pursue a lawsuit against the makers of Soylent, claiming that Soylent contains 12 to 25 times the level of [[lead]] and 4 times the level of [[cadmium]] allowable without a notice required in California by [[California Proposition 65 (1986)|Proposition 65]].<ref name=eater/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/as-you-sow-files-notice-of-legal-action-against-soylent-super-food-300128427.html|website=PR News Wire|date=13 August 2015|title=As You Sow Files Notice Of Legal Action Against Soylent Super Food}}</ref> A lawyer who has worked on settlements of Proposition 65 suits described the case as "alarmist" as the levels are well below FDA limits. Soylent's website currently displays a Proposition 65 warning.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Manufacturers/Soylent-hits-back-at-legal-threat-We-display-Prop-65-warnings|title=Soylent case reignites debate over Prop 65: 'It's basically extortion,' claims attorney|first=Elaine|last=Watson|date=17 August 2015}}</ref> As You Sow notes that, being marketed as a complete replacement for all other meals, the levels may be harmful.<ref name=eater>{{cite web|url=http://www.eater.com/2015/8/16/9162301/soylent-as-you-sow-cadmium-lead-california|title=Soylent Under Fire For Allegedly Failing to Provide Adequate Warnings On Its Labels|first=Brenna|last=Houck|work=Eater|date=16 August 2015|accessdate=16 August 2015}}</ref> The claim is of levels allowable concerning reproductive toxicity, which are considerably lower than levels allowable concerning poisoning or [[carcinogen|carcogenicity]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/08/watchdog-group-says-soylents-cadmium-and-lead-levels-violate-ca-law/|title=Watchdog group says Soylent's cadmium and lead levels violate CA law|first=Lee|last=Hutchinson|work=Ars Technica|date=17 August 2015|accessdate=17 August 2015}}</ref>


Rhinehart called the flavor of the original versions "minimal", "broad", and "nonspecific".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.inc.com/amy-whyte/stephen-colbert-tries-liquid-food-substitute-soylent.html |first=Amy |last=Whyte |title=Stephen Colbert Taste Tests Soylent... And Finds It Delicious? |work=[[Inc. (magazine)|Inc.]] |date=June 13, 2014 |quote=Rhinehart described the 'minimal flavor' as 'broad' and 'nonspecific' |access-date=February 11, 2018 |archive-date=November 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109090803/https://www.inc.com/amy-whyte/stephen-colbert-tries-liquid-food-substitute-soylent.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Soylent 1.0 contained soy [[lecithin]] and sucralose as [[flavor masker|masking flavors]] and to adjust appearance, texture, and smell.<ref name=blog-more-to-food>{{cite web|url=http://blog.soylent.me/post/73232819517/there-is-more-to-food-than-nutrition-even-a|title=Soylent: There is more to food than nutrition. Even a...|date=January 13, 2014|work=soylent.me|access-date=September 13, 2014|archive-date=September 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913172541/http://blog.soylent.me/post/73232819517/there-is-more-to-food-than-nutrition-even-a |url-status=dead}}</ref> Before version 1.4, [[vanillin]] was included as an ingredient for flavoring.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.soylent.me/post/112067551237/soylent-1-4-begins-shipping-today |title=Soylent 1.4 begins shipping today. |date=February 25, 2015 |access-date=March 20, 2015 |archive-date=February 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227041706/http://blog.soylent.me/post/112067551237/soylent-1-4-begins-shipping-today |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== See also ==

{{portal|Drink|Food}}
Dylan Matthews of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' noted in 2013 that Soylent fulfills a similar need as [[medical food]]s like [[Abbott Laboratories]]' Jevity, but at a much lower cost.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/03/14/rob-rhinehart-has-a-crazy-plan-to-let-you-go-without-food-forever-it-just-might-work/ |title=Rob Rhinehart has a crazy plan to let you go without food forever. It just might work. |first=Dylan |last=Matthews |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=March 14, 2013 |access-date=February 8, 2017 |archive-date=February 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228083138/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/03/14/rob-rhinehart-has-a-crazy-plan-to-let-you-go-without-food-forever-it-just-might-work/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Ambronite]]

* [[Liquid diet]]
Reviews on the taste of powdered Soylent have varied. Writing for ''[[The Verge]]'', Chris Ziegler said he was "pleasantly surprised" with the "rich, creamy, and strangely satisfying" flavor,<ref name=verge>{{cite web|last1=Ziegler|first1=Chris|title=Soylent survivor: one month living on lab-made liquid nourishment|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/7/17/5893221/soylent-survivor-one-month-living-on-lab-made-liquid-nourishment|website=[[The Verge]]|access-date=February 23, 2016|date=July 17, 2014|quote=Each box contains seven packets of powder – one per day – paired with seven bottles of a [[fish oil]] / [[canola oil]] blend.|archive-date=February 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220042343/http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/17/5893221/soylent-survivor-one-month-living-on-lab-made-liquid-nourishment|url-status=live}}</ref> and a reviewer for ''[[Business Insider]]'' likened it to a vanilla milkshake with the texture of pancake batter,<ref name=LoveInsider>{{citation|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/soylent-review-2014-7|title=Soylent Review|work=[[Business Insider]]|date=July 14, 2014|first=Dylan|last=Love|access-date=August 15, 2014|archive-date=May 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160523080406/http://www.businessinsider.com/soylent-review-2014-7|url-status=live}}</ref> while a writer for ''[[The Guardian]]'' wrote that it was "purposefully bland", "vile", and made the taster [[Gag reflex|"gag"]].<ref>{{citation |first=Arwa |last=Mahdawi |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2016/feb/08/inside-stupid-hackathon-extremely-stupid-ideas |title=Mansplain it to Me: inside the Stupid Hackathon for extremely stupid ideas |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=February 8, 2016 |access-date=February 8, 2016 |archive-date=February 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208185053/http://www.theguardian.com/global/2016/feb/08/inside-stupid-hackathon-extremely-stupid-ideas |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Nutraloaf]]

* [[Plumpy'nut]]
Farhad Manjoo of ''[[The New York Times]]'' said he "found Soylent to be a punishingly boring, joyless product".<ref name=Manjoo/> Chris Ziegler of ''The Verge'', who experimented with subsisting only on Soylent for almost a month, said that although he liked and "never really tired of the flavor", he still concluded that "Soylent isn't living, it's merely surviving", and described the apple he ate at the end of that period as "my first meal back from the abyss" and the best he'd ever had in his life.<ref name=verge/> A writer for ''[[Gawker]]'' said he "was having trouble getting it down" and eventually "dumped the whole thing in the sink".<ref name=ChenGawker>{{citation|url=http://gawker.com/we-drank-soylent-the-weird-food-of-the-future-510293401|title=We Drank Soylent, the Weird Food of the Future|work=[[Gawker]]|date=May 19, 2013|access-date=February 5, 2017|archive-date=October 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005014300/http://gawker.com/we-drank-soylent-the-weird-food-of-the-future-510293401|url-status=live}}</ref>

Both Manjoo and Ziegler said they had experienced some gastrointestinal problems from drinking the product.<ref name=verge/><ref name=Manjoo/> Lee Hutchinson of ''[[Ars Technica]]'' also reported a brief period of "adaptation gas" at the beginning of a four-day experiment.<ref name=HutchDoesSoylent>{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/09/ars-does-soylent-the-finale-soylent-dreams-for-people/ |title=Ars does Soylent, the finale: Soylent dreams for people |first=Lee |last=Hutchinson |work=[[Ars Technica]] |date=September 15, 2013 |access-date=February 8, 2017 |archive-date=December 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222083641/http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/09/ars-does-soylent-the-finale-soylent-dreams-for-people/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Caffè mocha|mocha]]-flavored version has been described as similar to a "caffeinated [[Nesquik]] drink".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/soylent-coffiest-review-2016-8 |date=August 23, 2016 |title=I gave up breakfast for a week and drank this caffeinated meal-replacement shake instead|first=Melia|last=Robinson|website=Business Insider|access-date=March 21, 2022|archive-date=November 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105110616/https://www.businessinsider.com/soylent-coffiest-review-2016-8|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Drink|Food}}
* [[Nutritionism]]
* [[Protein shake]]
* [[Protein shake]]
* [[Therapeutic food]]
* [[Therapeutic food]]


== References ==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em|refs=
<ref name="Varughese">{{cite news | url=http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/14272/20130315/rob-rhinehart-24-creates-soylent-why-never-food-bolemia-diet-weight-exercise-health-nutrition-eating.htm | title=Rob Rhinehart, 24, Creates Soylent: Why You Never Have To Eat Food Again | work=Medical Daily | date=March 15, 2013 | accessdate=2013-05-13 | author=Varughese, Ansa}}</ref>
<ref name="Matthews">{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/03/14/rob-rhinehart-has-a-crazy-plan-to-let-you-go-without-food-forever-it-just-might-work/ | title=Rob Rhinehart has a crazy plan to let you go without food forever. It just might work. | work=Washington Post | date=March 14, 2013 | accessdate=2013-05-14 | author=Matthews, Dylan}}</ref>
<ref name=Pomeroy>{{cite news | url=http://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2013/04/01/evaluating_soylent_can_man_survive_on_goop_alone_106496.html | title='Soylent': Can Man Survive on Goop Alone? | work=Real Clear Science | date=April 1, 2013 | accessdate=2013-05-27 | author=Pomeroy, Ross}}</ref>
<ref name="Scutti">{{cite news | url=http://www.medicaldaily.com/can-soylent-new-crowd-funded-nutritional-drink-back-its-claims-eat-all-healthy-body-needs-9day | title=Can Soylent, A New Crowd-Funded Nutritional Drink, Back Its Claims? Eat All A Healthy Body Needs For $9/Day | work=Medical Daily | date=February 18, 2014 | accessdate=2014-03-14 | author=Scutti, Susan}}</ref>
}}


== External links ==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Soylent}}
* {{official website|https://www.soylent.me/}}
* {{official website|soylent.com}}


{{Diets}}
{{Diets|state=collapsed}}


[[Category:2013 introductions]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 2013]]
[[Category:Diets]]
[[Category:Dietary supplements]]
[[Category:Vegetarian diets]]

Latest revision as of 02:51, 6 November 2024

Soylent Nutrition, Inc.
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryMeal replacement
Founded2013; 12 years ago (2013)
FounderRob Rhinehart
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California[1]
,
United States
Key people
Demir Vangelov (CEO)
ProductsSoylent
Websitesoylent.com

Soylent is a set of meal replacement products in powder, shake, and bar forms, produced by Soylent Nutrition, Inc. The company was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Soylent is named after an industrially produced food (the name of which is a portmanteau of "soy" and "lentil") in Make Room! Make Room!, a 1966 dystopian science fiction novel (which was the basis of the 1973 film Soylent Green) that explores the theme of resource shortages in the context of overpopulation.

The company developed a following initially in Silicon Valley and received early financial backing from GV, the investment arm of Alphabet, Inc., and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. In 2021, Soylent announced that it had become profitable starting in 2020.[2]

History

[edit]
A Soylent package, along with the powder and resulting drink

In January 2013, American software engineer Rob Rhinehart purchased 35 chemical ingredients—including potassium gluconate, calcium carbonate, monosodium phosphate, maltodextrin, and olive oil—all of which he deemed necessary for survival, based on his readings of biochemistry textbooks and U.S. government websites.[3][4] Rhinehart used to view food as a time-consuming hassle and had resolved to treat it as an engineering problem. He blended the ingredients with water and consumed only this drink for the next thirty days. Over the course of the next two months, he adjusted the proportions of the ingredients to counter various health issues and further refined the formula.[3][5][6] Rhinehart claimed a host of health benefits from the drink and noted that it had greatly reduced his monthly food bill, which fell from about US$470 to $155, and the time spent behind the preparation and consumption of food while providing him greater control over his nutrition.[3]

Rhinehart's blog posts about his experiment attracted attention on Hacker News,[4][7] eventually leading to a crowdfunding campaign on Tilt that raised about $1.5 million in preorders[8][9] aimed at moving the powdered drink from concept into production. Media reports detailed how operations began for Soylent Nutrition, Inc., in April 2014, using a relatively small $500 system to ship the first $2.6 million worth of product.[10] In January 2015, Soylent received $20 million in Series A round funding, led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.[11] In 2017, the company raised $50 million in venture funding.[12] In 2023, Soylent was acquired by Starco Foods, the third Starco acquisition in six months.[12]

Soylent is named after a food in Harry Harrison's 1966 science fiction novel, Make Room! Make Room![13] In the book, most types of "soylent" are made from soy and lentils, hence the name of the product, a combination of "soy" and "lent". The word also evokes the 1973 film adaptation, Soylent Green, in which the eponymous food is made from human remains.[4] Rhinehart has said he chose the name, with its morbid associations, to pique curiosity and deeper investigation, since the name was clearly not chosen with a traditionally "flashy" marketing scheme in mind.[14]

Distribution

[edit]

Soylent was available for purchase and shipment only within the United States until June 15, 2015, when it began shipping to Canada.[15] In October 2017, Canada disallowed further shipments due to a failure to meet food regulations on meal replacements;[16] shipments to Canada resumed in 2020.[17]

In July 2017, 7-Eleven stores in and around Los Angeles became the first offline venues to sell Soylent.[18] By April 2018, the product was sold in over 8,000 U.S. 7-Elevens and was available at Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Meijer.[19] By 2021, over 28,000 retail stores carried Soylent.[12]

Health effects

[edit]

The makers of Soylent claim it contains the nutrients necessary for a healthy lifestyle.[20] Some people have experienced gastrointestinal problems from consumption of Soylent, particularly flatulence.[21][22]

Lead and cadmium content

[edit]

On August 13, 2015, As You Sow filed a notice of intent to pursue a lawsuit against the makers of Soylent, claiming that the company was in breach of California's Proposition 65 for not adequately labeling its product given the levels of lead and cadmium present in the drink.[23] Although Soylent contains levels of lead and cadmium far below the national safety levels set by the FDA, it does contain 12 to 25 times the level of lead and 4 times the level of cadmium permitted in California without additional labeling.[23][24] A lawyer who had worked on settlements of Proposition 65 suits described the case as "alarmist", as the levels are well below FDA limits of what is allowed in food products.[25] However, as Soylent is marketed as a complete meal replacement, many customers consume the drinks three times a day, equating to 36 to 75 times the lead and 12 times the level of cadmium without the Prop 65 label.[26]

Soylent's website displays the Proposition 65 warning required by California.[25] Soylent Nutrition, Inc. published the position that the levels of heavy metal content in Soylent "are in no way toxic, and Soylent remains completely safe and nutritious".[27] The company also published an infographic and spreadsheet based on an FDA study of heavy metal content in common foods, comparing two selected example meals to servings of Soylent with a similar amount of caloric intake.

Product recalls

[edit]

In 2016, the company announced it would halt sales of the Soylent bar due to reports of gastrointestinal illness, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.[28] They asked customers to discard any unconsumed bars and offered full refunds.[29] On October 21, 2016, the company triggered a product recall.

On October 27, 2016, they also halted sales of Soylent powder.[30] The company said tests on the bar had not shown contamination[clarification needed] but also stated that some powder users had reported stomach-related symptoms.[31][32]

Soylent initially suspected soy or sucralose intolerance.[33] However, on November 7, 2016, the company instead blamed algal flour for making people sick and said it planned to remove it from future formulations of the powders and bars,[34][35] which it did in the next formulation, version 1.7, introduced on December 15, 2016.[36][37] The drink-based products use algal oil, not algal flour, so were deemed to be safe for users.[citation needed]

Reviews

[edit]

Soylent has gone through multiple iterations since its release, which have significantly changed the flavor, texture, and nutritional ingredients.

Rhinehart called the flavor of the original versions "minimal", "broad", and "nonspecific".[38] Soylent 1.0 contained soy lecithin and sucralose as masking flavors and to adjust appearance, texture, and smell.[39] Before version 1.4, vanillin was included as an ingredient for flavoring.[40]

Dylan Matthews of The Washington Post noted in 2013 that Soylent fulfills a similar need as medical foods like Abbott Laboratories' Jevity, but at a much lower cost.[41]

Reviews on the taste of powdered Soylent have varied. Writing for The Verge, Chris Ziegler said he was "pleasantly surprised" with the "rich, creamy, and strangely satisfying" flavor,[22] and a reviewer for Business Insider likened it to a vanilla milkshake with the texture of pancake batter,[42] while a writer for The Guardian wrote that it was "purposefully bland", "vile", and made the taster "gag".[43]

Farhad Manjoo of The New York Times said he "found Soylent to be a punishingly boring, joyless product".[21] Chris Ziegler of The Verge, who experimented with subsisting only on Soylent for almost a month, said that although he liked and "never really tired of the flavor", he still concluded that "Soylent isn't living, it's merely surviving", and described the apple he ate at the end of that period as "my first meal back from the abyss" and the best he'd ever had in his life.[22] A writer for Gawker said he "was having trouble getting it down" and eventually "dumped the whole thing in the sink".[44]

Both Manjoo and Ziegler said they had experienced some gastrointestinal problems from drinking the product.[22][21] Lee Hutchinson of Ars Technica also reported a brief period of "adaptation gas" at the beginning of a four-day experiment.[14]

The mocha-flavored version has been described as similar to a "caffeinated Nesquik drink".[45]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Soylent Offices – Los Angeles". May 20, 2019.
  2. ^ Kowitt, Beth (July 28, 2021). "Soylent, once the beverage of tech bros, finds a new audience". finance.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on March 12, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Rhinehart, Rob (February 13, 2013). "How I Stopped Eating Food". RobRhinehart.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Widdicombe, Lizzie (May 12, 2014). "The End of Food". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  5. ^ Storr, Will (May 6, 2013). "The man who lives without food". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on May 8, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  6. ^ Hannan, Caleb (July 18, 2013). "Could This Liquid Replace Food?". Popular Science. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  7. ^ Johnson, Theresa Christine (March 14, 2017). "The Fascinating Start to Future Food Brand Soylent". The Dieline. Archived from the original on February 10, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  8. ^ Hutchinson, Lee (October 21, 2013). "Soylent gets a $1.5 million infusion of venture capital". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  9. ^ Luzar, Charles (October 22, 2013). "Crowdfunding Darling Soylent Nets $1.5 Million in VC Funding".
  10. ^ Ballantyne, Alando (June 3, 2015). "How We Spent $500 on Tech to Ship $2.6M of Soylent". Medium.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  11. ^ "Soylent Raises Money". Rob Rhinehart personal blog. January 14, 2015. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c Hall, Christine (February 21, 2023). "Soylent acquired by Starco Brands as nutrition company shifts into its 'natural next stage'". TechCrunch. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  13. ^ Varughese, Ansa (March 15, 2013). "Rob Rhinehart, 24, Creates Soylent: Why You Never Have To Eat Food Again". Medical Daily. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  14. ^ a b Hutchinson, Lee (September 15, 2013). "Ars does Soylent, the finale: Soylent dreams for people". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  15. ^ "Soylent: Now Shipping to Canada". Soylent Blog. June 15, 2015. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  16. ^ Kappler, Maija (October 25, 2017). "Meal replacement company Soylent has imports blocked in Canada". CTV News. Toronto. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  17. ^ Troitino, Christina (April 13, 2020). "Meal Replacement Startup Soylent Returns to Canada for First Time Since 2017". forbes.com. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  18. ^ Ong, Thuy (July 11, 2017). "Soylent is being sold offline for the first time". The Verge. Archived from the original on July 12, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  19. ^ Gray, Sarah (April 11, 2018). "Soylent Meal Replacement Drinks Are Coming to Walmart". Fortune. Archived from the original on March 12, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  20. ^ Hutchinson, Lee (January 29, 2014). "Soylent gets tested, scores a surprisingly wholesome nutritional label". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on June 13, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015. However, nutrition testing done to gain the label established that Soylent meets the Food and Drug Administration's standards for a whole raft of healthy claims: 'Everything from reduced risk of heart disease and some cancers to absence of tooth decay', said Rhinehart. Based on the testing, he explained, Soylent can make many of the health and nutrient claims that the FDA tracks.
  21. ^ a b c Manjoo, Farhad (May 28, 2014), "The Soylent Revolution Will Not Be Pleasurable", The New York Times, archived from the original on February 15, 2017, retrieved March 3, 2017
  22. ^ a b c d Ziegler, Chris (July 17, 2014). "Soylent survivor: one month living on lab-made liquid nourishment". The Verge. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016. Each box contains seven packets of powder – one per day – paired with seven bottles of a fish oil / canola oil blend.
  23. ^ a b Houck, Brenna (August 16, 2015). "Soylent Under Fire for Allegedly Failing to Provide Adequate Warnings on Its Labels". Eater. Archived from the original on August 17, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  24. ^ "As You Sow Files Notice of Legal Action Against Soylent Super Food". PR News Wire. August 13, 2015. Archived from the original on August 15, 2015.
  25. ^ a b Watson, Elaine (August 17, 2015). "Soylent case reignites debate over Prop 65: 'It's basically extortion,' claims attorney". Archived from the original on August 16, 2015.
  26. ^ Westervelt, Amy (August 18, 2015). "Heavy metals prove all too common in meal replacement products, says watchdog group". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  27. ^ "Soylent FAQ: California Proposition 65". Archived from the original on March 31, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  28. ^ Mole, Beth (October 12, 2016). "Soylent halts sale of bars; investigation into illnesses continues". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  29. ^ Lomas, Natasha (October 13, 2016). "Soylent Bars recalled after some customers get sick". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  30. ^ Zaleski, Olivia (November 7, 2016). "Soylent Thinks It Found What Was Making People Sick: Algae". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  31. ^ Lomas, Natasha (October 28, 2016). "Soylent pulls Powder as part of probe into customer sickness". TechCrunch. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  32. ^ Dave, Paresh (October 27, 2016). "Soylent halts sales of its powder as customers keep getting sick". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 28, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  33. ^ Mole, Beth (October 12, 2016). "People get "violently ill" from Soylent bars; company stumped". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  34. ^ Filloon, Whitney (November 7, 2016). "Soylent Blames Algae for Making Customers Violently Ill". Eater. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  35. ^ Mole, Beth (November 8, 2016). "Solved: Algal flour was causing violent illnesses, Soylent says". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  36. ^ Purbasari, Anisa (November 7, 2016). "Soylent blames algal flour for consumer complaints". The Verge. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  37. ^ "Powder 1.7 Now Shipping". Soylent Nutrition, Inc. December 15, 2016. Archived from the original on December 16, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  38. ^ Whyte, Amy (June 13, 2014). "Stephen Colbert Taste Tests Soylent... And Finds It Delicious?". Inc. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2018. Rhinehart described the 'minimal flavor' as 'broad' and 'nonspecific'
  39. ^ "Soylent: There is more to food than nutrition. Even a..." soylent.me. January 13, 2014. Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  40. ^ "Soylent 1.4 begins shipping today". February 25, 2015. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  41. ^ Matthews, Dylan (March 14, 2013). "Rob Rhinehart has a crazy plan to let you go without food forever. It just might work". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 28, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  42. ^ Love, Dylan (July 14, 2014), "Soylent Review", Business Insider, archived from the original on May 23, 2016, retrieved August 15, 2014
  43. ^ Mahdawi, Arwa (February 8, 2016), "Mansplain it to Me: inside the Stupid Hackathon for extremely stupid ideas", The Guardian, archived from the original on February 8, 2016, retrieved February 8, 2016
  44. ^ "We Drank Soylent, the Weird Food of the Future", Gawker, May 19, 2013, archived from the original on October 5, 2014, retrieved February 5, 2017
  45. ^ Robinson, Melia (August 23, 2016). "I gave up breakfast for a week and drank this caffeinated meal-replacement shake instead". Business Insider. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
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