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Soylent Campaign

campaign.soylent.me

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Re: Soylent Campaign

#441

Post by nazgulnarsil »

Eliezer wrote: post #194

I'm in for $65, because I've run out of patience with everyone wisely nodding caution and not trying to solve the problem themselves. Like a lot of metabolically disadvantaged people, I feel betrayed and tossed off a cliff by a society that doesn't understand and doesn't care. You want to know how desperate we are? Read this: http://www.shaman-australis.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=35... That's the next alternative…

Low satiety liquid calories will not help people control their weight. It's been tried a million times in various permutations (slim fast is a thing, so are medical nutrient replacements). I'd stake my life savings on it.

I did try to solve the same problem the Soylent guy is solving, it's on LW under "I hate preparing food". I think I did a better job.

Re: Soylent Campaign

#442

Post by atdrummond »

blhack wrote: post #438
atdrummond wrote: post #435

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if they're already approved for human consumption, the end production process needs to occur in a cGMP approved facility to cover themselves legally. This isn't a cheap or quick process.

What you're talking about is commonly referred to as a "certified kitchen". Not only is this process simple, but there are community available certified kitchens in most major cities that people like the aforementioned hippies use to make their granola bars. Here is the first link for "certified kitchen Phoenix": https://www.chefssharedkitchen.com/default.aspx

No, it isn't the same thing - especially as the standards for most certified kitchens don't even touch the packaging requirement conditions of a cGMP facility. There's a big difference between selling food locally and taking it nationally. You don't waltz into GNC, Vitamin Shoppe or the health section at a major retailer with something made in a certified kitchen.

This is why it would have been useful for these guys to consult people with actual experience in the supplement industry.

Re: Soylent Campaign

#444

Post by ry0ohki »

knowtheory wrote: post #286
[deleted] wrote: post #278

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

More to the point, bifocals and lightning rods are not intended for internal consumption. Nor are either of them biochemistry, a subject considerably more complicated than optics or basic electro-magnetism.

If Franklin was wrong about lightning rods, maybe it would have burned down your house. He also experimented with dieting etc... The point is that someone can study a lot on a topic and be more informed then someone who has gone to school for the subject. The Soylent guy isn't just mixing random stuff together, he's doing a lot of research, experimenting, and not suggesting you make it your only source of food.

Re: Soylent Campaign

#445

Post by blhack »

atdrummond wrote: post #442
blhack wrote: post #438

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What you're talking about is commonly referred to as a "certified kitchen". Not only is this process simple, but there are community available certified kitchens in most major cities that people like the aforementioned hippies use to make their granola bars. Here is the first link for "certified kitchen Phoenix": https://www.chefssharedkitchen.com/default.aspx

No, it isn't the same thing - especially as the standards for most certified kitchens don't even touch the packaging requirement conditions of a cGMP facility. There's a big difference between selling food locally and taking it nationally. You don't waltz into GNC, Vitamin Shoppe or the health section at a major retailer with something made in a certified kitchen. This is why it would have been useful for these guys…

cGMP appears to apply to drug manufacturers. This isn't a drug, and isn't being marketed as a drug.

It's a food. Similar to the hippie granola bars I mentioned.

edit: are you saying that you have experience in this field? Enlighten me. What are they doing wrong, and how should they remedy it?

Re: Soylent Campaign

#446

Post by atdrummond »

blhack wrote: post #445
atdrummond wrote: post #442

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, it isn't the same thing - especially as the standards for most certified kitchens don't even touch the packaging requirement conditions of a cGMP facility. There's a big difference between selling food locally and taking it nationally. You don't waltz into GNC, Vitamin Shoppe or the health section at a major retailer with something made in a certified kitchen. This is why it would have been useful for these guys…

cGMP appears to apply to drug manufacturers. This isn't a drug, and isn't being marketed as a drug. It's a food. Similar to the hippie granola bars I mentioned. edit: are you saying that you have experience in this field? Enlighten me. What are they doing wrong, and how should they remedy it?

cGMP applies to all dietary supplements, which is what this will likely be classified as. This same process applies to Abbott Labs [owner of EAS] as well as small entities.

Here is the compliance guide for small entities: http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocuments...

As of 2010 all SEs must meet these requirements, regardless of firm size.

Re: my experience in this field, it is all indirect - research for those interested in developing products in this area, alongside business partnerships and friendships with those who produce a wide range of dietary supplements.

EDIT: I will note that they now claim the product will be produced in a FDA-approved facility. Whether this facility's certification is applicable to their specific case is not made clear but this is at least a step in the right direction. There's also the matter of labeling/ad claims with the FDA but hopefully they have the foresight to dial back the hyperbole before pushing the product to a wider audience.

I would also suggest caution with what "industry experts" one works. There's quite a few less-than-desirable elements in the dietary supplement game. Case in point? The lacing of the Craze/Detonate pre-workout supplements with amphetamines just a few months ago. (http://patrickarnoldblog.com/craziness-over-craze/)

Re: Soylent Campaign

#447

Post by daemonfire300 »

ph0rque wrote: post #341
[deleted] wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

Maybe Soylent is okay. Maybe. But there are well established, scientific methods to evaluate these claims. Why don't you summarize them here, and ask if the people behind Soylent have utilized them?

I looked at their site, and I haven't found anything talking ACTUALLY about the ingredients. We don't have to list scientific methods which they did not utilize, if their website does not give us any clue about the actual product, rather than it will be "good for your body".

Re: Soylent Campaign

#448

Post by nsxwolf »

Afforess wrote: post #370
nsxwolf wrote: post #268

STILL sticking with that absolutely horrific name, I see? You should seriously give out DVDs of the film as rewards. How about a sleeping pill named Quietus[1]? [1] Children of Men reference, film version

Horrible? Try genius. Instant recognizability, causes tons of comments. Any press is good press.

Well what may doom them is that their concoction looks like human snot, or even semen.

Re: Soylent Campaign

#449

Post by nsxwolf »

cabalamat wrote: post #348
lholden wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I love cutting a bell pepper and catching a whiff of its fresh smell in my nostrils. I love sometimes adding different sauces, spices or ingredients in my meals to give them a distinct and unique taste. Can I come over for dinner? :D > My main gripe with Soylent (ever since I first saw it here on HN a month ago) is that they are making cooking seem like a horrible chore that nobody wants to do. Some people really d…

I like cooking too. But sometimes it is a chore, or sometimes I'm busy and don't want to spend time cooking.

That's why there's restaurants and convenience foods. What a false dichotomy. The chore of an elaborate home cooked meal, or gulping down a cup of snot.

Re: Soylent Campaign

#450

Post by cscurmudgeon »

blhack wrote: post #369

Wow there is a lot of hate in this thread... A lot of the arguments here seem to boil down to "Much smarter people are working on this and they haven't solved it, who the hell does this KID think he is?!?" That's pretty depressing for a website that, at least originally, was to help startups talk to one another. Shame on you, hacker news. You're smarter than this. By this logic, never ever trust your data to anybody…

Except that those hippies don't raise $100k+ on the web.

"Soylent is perfectly balanced and optimized for your body and lifestyle, meaning it automatically puts you at an optimal weight, makes you feel full, and improves your focus and cognition"

The techniques and the wording seem snake oilish.

Also, if anything those dumb hacker kids build breaks (email, web app, game) etc, they won't hurt you physically.

The body is a weird mechanism: it can put up with lots of abuse and experimentation. It is also fragile at the same time.

Also, where are the ingredients listed? The FAQ is hilarious. I can't believe that people are so gullible. There are mountains of research on nutrition in modern science and thousands of years of accumulated evidence from traditional practices (Indian, Chinese) etc.

"But, hey, there is this magic potion which I can buy. Don't care about the ingredients. Can't be bothered to read up on the manuals for the greatest mechanism I will ever own. "

Whatever happened to extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence? In this case, there is a huge chance that a bunch of guys will get rich and some person will get hurt badly.

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