[clavalle]

1 lb of food would take about 10 megatons of TNT of energy. I'm not sure you'd want whatever that device is sitting on everyone's kitchen counter.

[rm_-rf_slash]

I imagine if you had that kind of Star Trek replicator technology it would be more feasible to use existing matter and rearrange it as desired.

[clavalle]

Plus, a starship is already strapped to a huge energy source so the additional risk is probably minimal.