“Miracle foods”: How Edesia’s Plumpy’Nut RUTF combats child malnutrition

21 Aug 2024 --- Edesia Nutrition is one of only two US-based manufacturers of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), also known as Plumpy’Nut, designed to help children suffering from acute malnutrition. The organization works alongside international partners such as USAID (US Agency for International Development), the UN’s WFP and UNICEF, local NGOs and health ministries to reach those in need around the world.

“RUTF, or Plumpy’Nut, is designed to provide all the essential nutrients that a child suffering from severe acute malnutrition needs to recover quickly. The formula typically includes an energy-dense balance of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals,” an Edesia Nutrition spokesperson tells Nutrition Insight.

Plumpy’Nut is made from milk powder, peanuts, soy, oil, sugar, vitamins and minerals. It does not need to be refrigerated, nor does it require additional preparation and it can be given at home. The product can rehabilitate a malnourished child under five in eight weeks.

“This combination not only supports rapid weight gain but also addresses deficiencies that are critical for immune function, cognitive development and overall health,” explains the organization. “One of the key components is the lipid-based matrix, which provides a high-calorie intake in a small volume, making it easier for malnourished children to consume and absorb the necessary nutrients without overwhelming their compromised digestive systems.”

Edesia Nutrition is active in 65 countries in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, reaching 4.9 million children in 2023. The top five countries the organization shipped to in the same year were Chad, Ethiopia, Sudan, Niger and Nigeria. 

Urgent need

This year’s annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report by the UN’s IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), UNICEF, WFP and WHO reveals that malnutrition rates globally are plateauing or reversing.

Edesia Nutrition tells us that the issue calls for scaling up production to meet the growing demand for RUTF.

“Scaling up production to meet the increasing demand for Plumpy’Nut RUTF, and for our other essential nutritional products, is a significant challenge because of humanitarian ebbs and flows — even while needs are increasing. From an operational standpoint, we are increasing our flexibility to be able to surge and scale, as needed, and be able to pivot to make different products for treatment as well as for prevention.”

Most PlumpyField partners manufacture the RUTF in countries and regions where Plumpy’Nut and other products are most needed.Every week, the organization manufactures 800 mt of Plumpy’Nut and other so-called “miracle foods” addressing malnutrition.

“Edesia Nutrition has one manufacturing location in Rhode Island, US. We are a member of the PlumpyField Network, which is a group of global producers around the world.”

Most PlumpyField partners manufacture the RUTF in countries and regions where Plumpy’Nut and other products are most needed, including in Ethiopia, Niger, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Madagascar, India, Haiti and Nigeria. 

“At Edesia Nutrition, we support local producers through our partnership with the PlumpyField Network. These local producers boost economies and create jobs, and this approach also strengthens supply chains and empowers communities to address malnutrition independently. Combining both stable US manufacturing and local production, where possible, creates a more effective and robust supply ecosystem for combating malnutrition,” the spokesperson explains. 

“Miracle foods”

Edesia Nutrition’s most widely distributed RUTF Plumpy’Nut comes in a 92 g sachet that contains 500 kcal. The RUTF can be prescribed to children with severe acute malnutrition who are over six months old. The treatment usually lasts six to ten weeks, and one to three sachets are administered a day. 

“At Edesia Nutrition, we are proud of our ongoing innovations in prevention products for both mothers and children,” the organization’s spokesperson tells us. “We believe that we must shift from treating children with malnutrition to preventing it in the first place.”

Another miracle food by Edesia Nutrition is the RUSF (ready-to-use supplementary food) Plumpy’Sup, which treats moderate acute malnutrition in children over six months of age. The treatment prescribes one 100 g sachet daily, offering 540 kcal for 12 to 16 weeks. 

“The first 1,000 days in a child’s life are critical for lifelong development. Children must get a mix of nutritious foods to make it to their second birthday and thrive long after,” the spokesperson asserts. 

“Research shows that supplementing a typical diet with Enov’Nutributter+ — a lipid-based nutrient supplement — is highly effective at reducing the prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight and micronutrient deficiencies in children in the first six to 24 months.”

Edesia Nutriton’s Plumpy’Doz is also a lipid-based nutrient supplement for the prevention of acute malnutrition in children in the same age group. The child is prescribed one 50 g sachet a day containing 270 kcal. 

“It also leads to developmental gains, better language and motor skills and an increased likelihood that the child will get more health screenings and vaccinations.”

The RUTF can be prescribed to children with severe acute malnutrition who are over six months old.Specifically for children over the age of three, Nutri’School targets nutrient gaps through lipid-based nutrient supplement school feeding. It is commonly given as a mid-morning snack in schools that are unable to serve hot meals, and it was developed to provide energy, protein and essential vitamins and minerals.

Plumpy’Mum is a RUSF that treats moderate acute malnutrition in pregnant and lactating women. It provides appropriate micronutrients and helps create a balance of protein and energy to fill micro- and macro-nutrient gaps.

Similarly, Enov’Mum is a lipid-based nutrient supplement that promotes the nutritional status and positive birth outcomes of pregnant and lactating women. It is administered through a part of blanket feeding supplementation programs that target mothers.

Overcoming challenges and logistics

The Edesia Nutrition spokesperson highlights several logistical and other challenges in getting miracle foods to those most in need. 

“Logistics in remote and conflict-affected areas can be incredibly challenging, but the majority of our work is done through our key customers — USAID, WFP, UNICEF — who have a significant presence on the ground, as well as through implementing partners who are adept at navigating these tough environments. In instances where we directly donate products to local NGOs or ministries of health, we encounter logistical hurdles, such as difficult terrain or limited infrastructure.”

“However, we collaborate closely with our partners to overcome these obstacles and ensure that the products reach the children who need them most. Even in the most challenging situations, we find a way to deliver because we know how critical timely access to Plumpy’Nut RUTF is for saving lives.”

Earlier this year, USAID committed US$200 million for the purchase and distribution of RUTF and other specialized foods used to prevent and treat acute malnutrition.

Despite the challenging environment, Edesia Nutrition ensures that “quality and safety are non-negotiable.”

“We adhere to strict international standards for food safety and quality, including the Global Food Safety Initiatives standards and Codex Alimentarius. Every batch of Plumpy’Nut RUTF undergoes rigorous testing at multiple stages of production, from raw material sourcing to the finished product.”

“We hand off our products to responsible partners, including USAID, UNICEF and WFP, for safe storage and distribution in the field.”

Lastly, the spokesperson emphasizes: “Having consistent and sustained humanitarian funding to meet the growing needs and having accurate forecasting from our customers is vital for our scaling up in the most cost-effective ways possible.”

By Milana Nikolova