Meal replacement drinks by Chimp Food imitate the diet of our primate brethren

By Mary Ellen Shoup

- Last updated on GMT

Chimp Food meal replacement drinks come in four flavors: orange, pineapple, grape & apple
Chimp Food meal replacement drinks come in four flavors: orange, pineapple, grape & apple
Florida-based Chimp Food distinguishes itself from other health beverage manufacturers by mimicking the diet of the human species’ closest living relative: chimpanzees.

It was founder Scott Joseph’s personal health journey roughly two years ago that led him to create Chimp Food, a company that makes products based on the diet of primates. After struggling with obesity for many years as well as muscles and joint aches, Joseph decided his animal-based diet was to blame and eliminated all animal food products.

Joseph decided to adopt the diet of chimp by concocting his own beverages made from whole fruits, vegetable, nuts and seeds. He said his health improved dramatically,including a 100-lb weight loss.

“My thoughts, my clarity, and my body all improved,”​ Joseph told BeverageDaily. “We’re made for this diet. We are made for fruit.”

Do as chimps do

According to the company, humans and chimps share 99% of the same DNA, but Joseph says our primate brothers have an edge over us health wise. Joseph studied Jane Goodall’s research on chimpanzees, particularly their daily diet.

“Chimps are very, very simple. They eat fruit all day long until about noon and then they crash out for about two hours,” ​said Joseph. “When they get up, they go through the jungle and they eat leaves all afternoon and nibble on nuts and seeds.​  

“Rather than eating the food, it was easier for me to mix it all up and drink it,”​ Joseph added. 

Each of the company’s four flavors of “food” ​drinks are meant to serve as a meal replacement and are made up of a variety of whole fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Chimp Food uses the entire fruit and vegetables including peels, skins, and seeds in order to ensure optimal nutrient content, Scott said.

Chimp Food products are available in Whole Foods Market in Florida and online through the company’s website. Each 16-ounce bottle retails for $8 and are sold in packs of 14.

“Our number one priority is to raise capital for growth and take on more grocery stores. We’re working with Wegmans and Sprouts right now.”​ Joseph said. 

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2 comments

Jane Goodall

Posted by Scott Joseph,

Regarding the previous comment, I have read almost everything Jane Goodall has published about a Chimpanzees diet, and she clearly writes that a Chimps diet consists of 1.4% meat, mostly bugs and termites and occasionally a hunted monkey. If that makes them Omnivores, then why even classify any species. A typical Omnivore (Bear, Raccoons) eats closer to a 50/50 diet of mixed meat and plants. Chimps are far from that.

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the real chimp diet

Posted by bowl weevils,

if Scott really paid attention to Jane Goodall's work with chimpanzees, he would know that one of her discoveries was that chimpanzees hunt small mammals, especially smaller primates such as colobus monkeys. they do this in coordinated attacks, and have no problems with consuming infants that they separate from their parents. this is followed by distribution of parts of the meat based on ranking within the group and on who actually killed the prey.
there are plenty of videos showing chimpanzees hunting and consuming colobus monkeys, so Scott really should be aware of this important source of the proteins and certain vitamins and minerals that are found in much greater abundance in animal meat compared to fruits.

another discovery of Goodall's was that chimpanzees frequently use tools. this includes modifying sticks into different shapes to fit inside different parts of termite nests. chimpanzees love termites. of course, this is also a love shared with many hunter-gatherer cultures of the human sort. hunting and eating smaller primates is another practice shared with human hunter-gatherer cultures, or among city dwellers with a fondness for bush meat.

the truth is that chimpanzees are omnivores, like their human relatives.

so at %8 for a 16 oz bottle, i'm hoping that scott mixes in the appropriate amounts of termites and raw monkey flesh. - and use the whole set of monkey organs

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