510
23.2 Types of Medical Foods and Infant Formulas
Medical foods and infant formulas are found in different types according to the
bases they are made from. The bases could be used singularly or in combination.
Medical foods and baby foods can be made from fruits such as mango, kiwi, cherries, pumpkins, purees, pawpaw, apples, bananas and avocadoes. They can also be
prepared from vegetables such as turnip, carrots, beets, tomatoes, asparagus, cucumber, bitter melon, peas, broccoli and egg plants. Sometimes, meats such as fish,
eggs, wild game, chicken and beef and dairy such as cheese, yogurt and whole cow
milk form a very good base of medical foods and baby formulas. Grains are the
most common form of baby medicals foods and baby formula. The bases include
rice, ground nuts, sesame, barley, wheat, flax, millet, corn, kamut, oatmeal and germ.
23.3 Ready-to-Use Foods (RUFs)
Ready-to-Use Food (RUF) refers to any energy dense food that is produced and can
be eaten straight from the packaging, without the need for cooking or other preparation (ACF 2011; Schoonees et al. 2013). The low moisture content of RUF ensues
that the product remains viable and free from microbial contamination during its
shelf life (Schoonees et al. 2013). RUF is a broad term that encompasses food categories such as; ready to use therapeutic, supplementary and complementary foods.
23.3.1 Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods
Ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) are food products with high energy and
nutrient content designed to deliver the body’s daily energy and nutrient requirements thus promoting rapid normal growth (ACF 2011; UNICEF 2013). RUTFs
play a major role in the management of non-complicated severe acute malnutrition
(SAM) in children aged six (06) months and above.
The first RUTF was developed in 1996 and in 2007 a joint statement released by
WHO, WFP, UNICEF and the UN Standing Committee on Nutrition endorsed the
product for use as part of programmes using the approach ‘community-based management of acute malnutrition’ (UNICEF 2013; WHO & UNICEF 2007). The
endorsement of RUTF was premised on series of results from clinical trials that
demonstrated the acceptability, efficacy and effectiveness of RUFT for the treatment of acute malnutrition when compared to F100 (Briend et al. 1999; Diop
et al. 2003).
Currently RUTF is the preferred choice in the management of children with
uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition. However, F100 is still the mainstay treatment for children who are too young (under 6 months of age) for solid food, or who
A. G. Mtewa et al.
23.2 Types of Medical Foods and Infant Formulas
Medical foods and infant formulas are found in different types according to the
bases they are made from. The bases could be used singularly or in combination.
Medical foods and baby foods can be made from fruits such as mango, kiwi, cherries, pumpkins, purees, pawpaw, apples, bananas and avocadoes. They can also be
prepared from vegetables such as turnip, carrots, beets, tomatoes, asparagus, cucumber, bitter melon, peas, broccoli and egg plants. Sometimes, meats such as fish,
eggs, wild game, chicken and beef and dairy such as cheese, yogurt and whole cow
milk form a very good base of medical foods and baby formulas. Grains are the
most common form of baby medicals foods and baby formula. The bases include
rice, ground nuts, sesame, barley, wheat, flax, millet, corn, kamut, oatmeal and germ.
23.3 Ready-to-Use Foods (RUFs)
Ready-to-Use Food (RUF) refers to any energy dense food that is produced and can
be eaten straight from the packaging, without the need for cooking or other preparation (ACF 2011; Schoonees et al. 2013). The low moisture content of RUF ensues
that the product remains viable and free from microbial contamination during its
shelf life (Schoonees et al. 2013). RUF is a broad term that encompasses food categories such as; ready to use therapeutic, supplementary and complementary foods.
23.3.1 Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods
Ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) are food products with high energy and
nutrient content designed to deliver the body’s daily energy and nutrient requirements thus promoting rapid normal growth (ACF 2011; UNICEF 2013). RUTFs
play a major role in the management of non-complicated severe acute malnutrition
(SAM) in children aged six (06) months and above.
The first RUTF was developed in 1996 and in 2007 a joint statement released by
WHO, WFP, UNICEF and the UN Standing Committee on Nutrition endorsed the
product for use as part of programmes using the approach ‘community-based management of acute malnutrition’ (UNICEF 2013; WHO & UNICEF 2007). The
endorsement of RUTF was premised on series of results from clinical trials that
demonstrated the acceptability, efficacy and effectiveness of RUFT for the treatment of acute malnutrition when compared to F100 (Briend et al. 1999; Diop
et al. 2003).
Currently RUTF is the preferred choice in the management of children with
uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition. However, F100 is still the mainstay treatment for children who are too young (under 6 months of age) for solid food, or who
A. G. Mtewa et al.