One thing about that nutri-food that "was so bland that it was pretty much designed to kill even the sensation of taste" That would, I bet, be gentle enough for people who were very, very sick and, due to being sick, was unable to eat anything else while their systems recovered.

A potential crime against the nature of food itself, turned into medicine. Heh, that would definitely be a way to "stick it" to those that were using it to keep their population obedient. Be a great way to help people dealing with a nasty norovirus. Blarg!