> So there literally is no such thing as “the perfect mix of vitamins, minerals and nutrients” for all human beings. A mix that is optimized for a 20-something

> So there literally is no such thing as “the perfect mix of vitamins, minerals and nutrients” for all human beings. A mix that is optimized for a 20-something inactive underweight male could quite easily kill a 60-year-old woman or a 30-year-old athlete. The writer seems to be making two assumptions: (1) if everyone eats the same food, it will cause health problem, including death, for many (2) if people individually choose what to eat, they'll mostly eat healthier than if they all have the same diet chosen for them. Are these assumptions true? To find out, we'd need to do an experiment. However, the experiment has already been done: during WW2 in Britain food was rationed and everyone ate what bureaucrats in Whitehall decided they should, not what they wanted to. The result? The nation's health improved. So Stevens appears to be wrong.