Rav Eliyahu Lifshitz of Maaleh Adumim suggests that this is based on a fundamental conceptual difference between "shehakol" and the other birchoth hanehenin. He points out that really only plant life was orignally created for consumption. Thus the brachot "borei minei mezonoth"/"borei pri..." suggest thanking for the creation of food. "Shehakol" is more an acknowledgement that even these things that were not primarily created as our food, also are created with His word and deserving of this recognition.

Rav Eliyahu Lifshitz of Maaleh Adumim explains that this is based on a fundamental conceptual difference between "shehakol" and the other birchoth hanehenin. He suggests that really only plant life (tzome'ach) was originally created for consumption. Thus the brachot - "borei minei mezonoth"/"borei pri..." suggest thanking for the creation of foodstuff. "Shehakol" is more an acknowledgement that even these things that were not primarily created as our food, also are created with His word and deserving of this recognition.