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Because amino acids are now produced only in small quantities for research, the synthetic-formula diet comes high: $12 per man per day. But the sources of raw material are inexhaustible; amino acids are synthesized from petroleum byproducts or sugar. Winitz and Chan are sure the price will tumble as demand increases. When the price is right, the researchers believe, a dollop of their formula could be added to the food intake of hundreds of millions of people, and wipe out malnutrition around the world.