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Nestle, the largest food group in the world, has announced its plans to create customizable vitamins. The company's Institute of Health Sciences will start a new research project that aims to make unique vitamin combinations that cater to each individual patient.

For this project, named "Iron Man," the Institute will be working with Waters Corporation. The aim is to treat people's metabolic, brain and gastrointestinal disorders through different kinds of foods and beverages. According to the Bloomberg, Nestle's "goal is to offer supplements tailored to an individual's needs, possibly through a device not unlike its Nespresso machine -- though that could take many years to develop."

"Iron Man is an analysis of what's missing in our diets, and a product, tailored to you, to help make up that difference," NIHS director Ed Baetge said. "In the past, food was just food. We're going in a new direction."

In order to be able to make personalized vitamins, the researchers must first develop tests that can effectively measure people's levels. These tests will ideally identify the levels through blood or urine samples. For each patient, the company will generate a product that delivers the proper doses of vitamins and minerals that the patient needs. Baetge added that any Iron Man-derived products will ideally be more effective than multivitamin supplements since these products address individual needs.

Despite the company's efforts, not everyone is sold on making supplements high-tech. Critics stated that several studies have found that vitamins and supplements are not effective in preventing certain disease. Making these vitamins fancier will not necessarily make them any more effective. Furthermore, critics stated that almost every one is deficient in something. This new product could convince people to spend money that they do not have to.