Use and Improvement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) Formulas in the Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition

Abstract

Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) permit outpatient treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) cases without medical complications in under-five years old children, directly at home, avoiding the overcrowding of the hospitals and lacking cares of children's parents. A commercial RUTF called Plumpy' Nut on the international market already exists, but it is affected by too high costs and local production issues. This chapter aims to describe the state of the art of RUTFs use, taking into account strengths and weaknesses, with attention to the development and improvement of alternative recipes suitable for local production.