Food Synthesizer

Food synthesizers or food extruders are a technology developed before the Great War. They are mentioned in Fallout 2, and appear as a world object in Fallout 4 and Fallout 76.

Background
Food synthesizers are machines created before the Great War to provide humans with a convenient source of nutrition that can be stocked for extreme periods of time.

Vault use
The need to provide individuals with a nutritionally balanced ration with a long shelf-life was greatest for Vault-Tec. In addition to becoming a standard-issue amenity in their Vaults, researchers experimented with various formulas. As part his senior thesis, Vault-Tec University student Drew Collingsworth created a recipe that was derived largely from yellow peas; designing a Vault experiment (Project Lembas) around a control group having access to standard rations and an experimental group fed only on his paste.

The food synthesizers were the subject of several of Vault-Tec's unethical experiments as part of the Societal Preservation Program, either not providing enough of them to supply the entire population of select Vaults or rigging them to provide a sub-optimal food supply - such as a thin, watery gruel in lieu of proper nutrition.

Enclave use
Within their research facilities, The Enclave installed synthesizers which accepted food as feed and processed it into a nutritious pink paste. The machine was capable of providing nutrition for around 6 years by recycling unwanted or surplus food stocks. Although it brought no adverse physical effects, the terrible taste of the paste put a strain on morale. One member of the research staff even debated cooking up a mutated chicken to spare themselves from another paste meal.

Institute use
The Institute also utilized these machines, providing a varied supply of food by way of three dispensing handles. Members of the Institute have the ability to select the types of sustenance, options including protein (beef, ham, chicken, and bacon flavors), fiber (lettuce, spinach, broccoli, and fruit), and fat (peanut, butter, ice cream, and grease). The machines featured sections for individuals to place or retrieve plates and utensils, and a place for waste. Lights at the top indicate if the machine has power or an obstruction.

Domestic use
One of the earliest attempts was the Nutritional Alternative Paste Program, a joint effort between Vault-Tec Corporation and the United States government. The food substitute trialed at the Suffolk County Charter School was intended to provide sufficient vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients and have a shelf life over 100 years.