511
have a medical condition requiring liquid food intake for the first part of their treatment (ACF 2011).
23.3.1.1 Composition of RUTF
The composition of RUTF is very similar to that of F100 therapeutic milk, the diet
recommended by WHO in the recovery phase of treatment of SAM, except for the
added iron (Collins et al. 2006; WHO & UNICEF 2007). RUTF is therefore designed
so that it can be used as a complete replacement for food in the early stages of recovery during treatment of SAM. Ready-to-use therapeutic foods are fat-based products with extremely low water content unlike the water-based F100. The low water
content of RUTF creates an unconducive environment for bacterial growth even
when the product is accidentally contaminated thus ensuing it remains viable during
its long shelf life without refrigeration (Collins et al. 2006).
The majority of RUFTs are formulated as lipid-based pastes or solid compressed
bars (biscuits) containing a paste of peanuts, sugar, milk powder and micronutrient
mix, with a low moisture content and a long shelf-life (ACF 2011). In addition, most
formulations contain legumes, cereals, oil, and dairy products such as dried skimmed
milk or whey protein concentrate (Osendarp et al. 2015). Table 23.1 presents a typical nutritional composition of RUTF.
23.3.1.2 Formulations of RUTF
The majority of RUFTs are formulated as lipid-based pastes or biscuits containing
a paste of peanuts, sugar, milk powder and micronutrient mix, with a low moisture
content and a long shelf-life (ACF 2011). Examples of products formulated as
pastes include; Plumpy’nut, chiponde, peanut based-RUTF, Eezeepaste-NUT while
BP-100 is an example of products formulated as biscuits.
The paste products can be consumed by children as young as 6 months. Solid
RUTF products require soaking in clean water to form a porridge that can be eaten
by young children, or consumed directly as biscuits by older children (Schoonees
et al. 2013). Children should be provided with clean safe drinking water to drink at
will since RUTF do not contain water (WHO & UNICEF 2007).
23.3.1.3 Indications and Dosage
In management of SAM, 10 to 15 kg of RUTF is administered over a period of
6–8 weeks to facilitate recovery (WHO & UNICEF 2007). The quantity of RUTF
required by each individual child is dependent on the body weight, with a target of
providing dosages that deliver 200 kcal/kg/day (ACF 2011).
23 Medical Foods and Infant Formulas
have a medical condition requiring liquid food intake for the first part of their treatment (ACF 2011).
23.3.1.1 Composition of RUTF
The composition of RUTF is very similar to that of F100 therapeutic milk, the diet
recommended by WHO in the recovery phase of treatment of SAM, except for the
added iron (Collins et al. 2006; WHO & UNICEF 2007). RUTF is therefore designed
so that it can be used as a complete replacement for food in the early stages of recovery during treatment of SAM. Ready-to-use therapeutic foods are fat-based products with extremely low water content unlike the water-based F100. The low water
content of RUTF creates an unconducive environment for bacterial growth even
when the product is accidentally contaminated thus ensuing it remains viable during
its long shelf life without refrigeration (Collins et al. 2006).
The majority of RUFTs are formulated as lipid-based pastes or solid compressed
bars (biscuits) containing a paste of peanuts, sugar, milk powder and micronutrient
mix, with a low moisture content and a long shelf-life (ACF 2011). In addition, most
formulations contain legumes, cereals, oil, and dairy products such as dried skimmed
milk or whey protein concentrate (Osendarp et al. 2015). Table 23.1 presents a typical nutritional composition of RUTF.
23.3.1.2 Formulations of RUTF
The majority of RUFTs are formulated as lipid-based pastes or biscuits containing
a paste of peanuts, sugar, milk powder and micronutrient mix, with a low moisture
content and a long shelf-life (ACF 2011). Examples of products formulated as
pastes include; Plumpy’nut, chiponde, peanut based-RUTF, Eezeepaste-NUT while
BP-100 is an example of products formulated as biscuits.
The paste products can be consumed by children as young as 6 months. Solid
RUTF products require soaking in clean water to form a porridge that can be eaten
by young children, or consumed directly as biscuits by older children (Schoonees
et al. 2013). Children should be provided with clean safe drinking water to drink at
will since RUTF do not contain water (WHO & UNICEF 2007).
23.3.1.3 Indications and Dosage
In management of SAM, 10 to 15 kg of RUTF is administered over a period of
6–8 weeks to facilitate recovery (WHO & UNICEF 2007). The quantity of RUTF
required by each individual child is dependent on the body weight, with a target of
providing dosages that deliver 200 kcal/kg/day (ACF 2011).
23 Medical Foods and Infant Formulas