Innovative health food company Soylent is in hot water with customers reporting symptoms of gastroenteritis, vomiting, and diarrhoea after consuming the company’s meal replacement nutrition bars. The company is now urging people who have bought the bar to discard them, while they investigate the matter.
For those of you unaware of the hipster movement that is Soylent, it is an online health food store and self-styled “pioneer in the food technology”. The company produces "complete" and convenient foods made of ingredients such as soy and algal flour. Not everyone is a fan - the taste of the beige food replacement is apparently rather bland.
Located in the world’s innovation capital, Silicon Valley in California, Soylent provide a range of products including “Coffiest”, their morning coffee in a bottle, a low-calorie protein and vitamin supplement powder, and their meal replacement “Soylent Drink”. If the company name seems familiar, you're probably thinking of Soylent Green, the infamous future food with a disturbing ingredient - people - in the 1973 film of the same name.
The bar is their latest creation and was only launched a month ago. The bar claims to carry only 250 calories while providing the average adult with 12.5 per cent of their daily nutritional needs.
However, many have shared negative experiences after consuming the bar:
In response to the scandal (which isn't the first production problem the company has faced), Soylent issued the following statement on their website:
“It has recently come to our attention that a small number of our customers have experienced gastrointestinal issues after consuming Soylent Bars. As a precautionary measure, we are halting all Soylent Bar purchases and shipments and are advising our customers to discard any remaining bars in their possession,” their statement reads.
The statement emphasises “this issue does not appear to affect our other drinks and powder”.
SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only. Read more about SBS Food
Have a story or comment? Contact Us
