Millions of young children in nations such as Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Nigeria are exposed to the serious threat of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) caused by wars, climate catastrophes, and economic hardship. UNICEF reports that 45 million children are suffering from wasting across the world. Also around 13.6 million children fall under the severely wasted category (Wasting is an immediately life-threatening condition that necessitates intervention).
Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) has been a revolution in the treatment of conditions such as severe acute malnutrition. In contrast to conventional hospital-based treatment, RUTF is a shelf-stable, dense food paste that can be taken at home and still enable children to recover without being hospitalized.
RUTF – From Crisis to Recovery
An extremely efficient treatment regimen – RUTF is a mere six-to-eight-week treatment with RUTF has a success rate of more than 85% in restoring malnourished children to health.
Convenience of distribution – Since RUTF is contained in handy sachets, it does not require refrigeration. This convenience of storage also makes it perfect for easy distribution, making it perfect for emergencies.
Scientific formulation – Composed of high quality nutritionally rich ingredients such as peanuts, milk powder, sugar, oil, and basic vitamins and minerals, RUTF is seen to offer upto 500 kcal per sachet to fulfill the daily nutritional needs of a child.
Addressing Malnutrition in Crisis Zones
Sudan & South Sudan – In war-torn areas, particularly with the current wars and large-scale displacement, millions of children are vulnerable. The World Food Programme reported that more than 4 million Sudanese children were affected by malnutrition in 2024, with RUTF being one of the few interventions keeping these children alive.
Ethiopia – Popularly referred to as the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is facing one of the most severe droughts in decades, and more than 8.1 million children are impacted. RUTF has played a vital role for UNICEF and other partner agencies in responding to the crisis.
Somalia – Food crisis in this country has caused more than 1.5 million children to experience acute malnutrition. RUTF alone in 2022 has prevented a massive famine.
DRC & Nigeria – These areas have suffered food insecurity as a result of armed conflicts, where 43% of children in Nigeria aged below five suffer from chronic malnutrition. RUTF programs to date have already been able to drastically lower death rates and can keep doing the same with appropriate actions.
What makes RUTF work is that its formulation has been precisely adjusted.
Every sachet of 92 grams of RUTF includes:
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- Peanut paste – Protein and nutritious fats needed for development.
- Milk powder – Supplies top-quality protein and calcium for bone growth.
- Vegetable oils – Supply fats required for energy and brain function.
- Sugar – Assists in the release of instant energy.
- Vitamins & minerals – Key micronutrients such as Vitamin A, iron, and zinc aid immune function and brain development.
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As an Indian RUTF and RUSF manufacturer, Nuflower is dedicated to collaborating with NGOs, humanitarian agencies, and governments to increase life-saving nutrition programs. Our cutting-edge facilities guarantee:
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- High-quality, WHO-compliant RUTF production
- Cost-efficient and scalable supply chains
- Trustworthy and timely distribution to crisis-stricken areas
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The Way Forward: A Call to Action
Malnutrition is avoidable, and with proper interventions, millions of children can be rescued from its ruinous impact. RUTF has already changed the lives of millions, but there is still more to be done. We call on humanitarian agencies, donor agencies, and governments to join us in making RUTF more available in high-risk areas.
Together, we can:
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- Scale up emergency nutrition programs to cover more children.
- Strengthen supply chains to provide continuous RUTF supply.
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Together, we can improve procurement, localize manufacturing, and make sure that each child with malnutrition gets the timely treatment they need.
Let’s save lives. Let’s end malnutrition.
For partnership opportunities, contact us today!