Ready-To-Use-Therapeutic Food (RUTF) – Treatment of Severe Childhood Malnutrition

What Is RUTF?

RUTF, often referred to as ready-to-use-therapeutic food is a life-saving essential supply item. These foods have a high nutrient density and a low water activity; thus, they do not support bacterial growth even without refrigeration. They need no cooking or other preparation and can be fed directly from their packaging with no need for training. The ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) are for use in the treatment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM).

 

Saving Lives with RUTF

Malnutrition literally means ‘bad nutrition’ and technically includes both over and under nutrition. In the context of developing countries, under nutrition is generally the main problem of concern. Severe acute malnutrition is critical health problem in under-five aged children in all over world. Globally, about 50 million children less than 5 years are wasted (too thin) at any one time; of these, over 17 million are severely wasted. These children are at high risk of death or may suffer from diseases and complications that will greatly affect their future life. Much more common is stunting (failure to achieve normal growth in length or height): it affects more than 160 million children that may not reach their developmental potential, mainly in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Principles of Production

RUTF spread is an edible lipid-based paste that is energy dense, resists bacterial contamination, and requires no cooking. The primary production principles include grinding all ingredients to a particle size < 200 microns, producing the food without the introduction of water, and embedding the protein and carbohydrate components of the food into the lipid matrix. The most widely used RUTF spread is a mixture of milk powder, sugar, vegetable oil, peanut butter, vitamins, and minerals.

 

RUTF Recipe

Table 1-  A typical recipe for ready-to-use-therapeutic food (RUTF) by The World Food Program (WFP) and UNICEF

Ingredients	% weight
Full fat milk Sugar Vegetable oil Peanut butter Mineral vitamin mix	30 28 15 25 1.6

 

What Is the Role of RUTF?

• One RUTF sachet combines 500 calories and micronutrients that have:
• High nutritional value allowing malnourished children to gain weight quickly.
• Two-year shelf life, making it convenient to pre-position in a warehouse.
• Appealing taste and easy digestibility.
• No need for preparation – children eat it directly from the packet.

 

Age limit for RUTF

Ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) are foods for specific medical uses that are high in energy, sufficiently supply protein, and other necessary nutrients for the nutritional treatment of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition between the ages of 6 and 59 months without experiencing problems with their appetite.

 

How to eat RUTF?

1 sachet= 500kcal

1.     Knead

2.     Tear and Open

3.     Squeeze and Eat

 

How long does a child need RUTF?

Typically, a child needs to eat 10-15kg of RUTF over a period of six to eight weeks. That’s three packets of RUTF per day.

 

How much RUTF is made each year?

Global budgets currently provide $200 million per year for RUTF — enough for just 20% of children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition.

 

Is RUTF taken with Water?

No, Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) is typically consumed directly without mixing it with water. It's designed to be a nutrient-dense paste,

 

Why Is RUTF a ‘wonder food’?

·       Nutrient rich

·       Ready to use

·       Long shelf life

·       Treatment for malnutrition

·       Convenient packaging

 

Points to be considered before taking RUTF

• Children treated with RUTFs require extra water; if clean water is not available, RUTF alone will not result in a healthy child.
• If not administered under proper supervision, there is a risk of overconsumption leading to excessive calorie intake.
• Rapid reintroduction of highly nutritious food may cause digestive issues, such as diarrhea or stomach upset, especially if the individual's digestive system is not accustomed to such nutrient-dense foods.
•  Despite its effectiveness, the cost of producing and distributing RUTF can be a challenge.