WHO GUIDELINE ON DAIRY CONTENT OF RUTF
Document Location: Requirements and Specifications - Formulation Guidance
Alternate Name: ISBN: 9789240022270
Date Document Last Updated: 2021
Publisher: WHO
Date Uploaded to Website: June 8, 2024
Overview
This WHO guideline is an update of the specific recommendation in the technical annex of the 2007 Joint Statement by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSSCN) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on community-based management of severe acute malnutrition, which states that at least 50% of the proteins in ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) should come from dairy products. This document provides background information on alternative RUTF formulations, which contain less than 50 % dairy protein or replace completely dairy protein. Standard RUTFs typically contain 50% or more protein from dairy, specifically skimmed milk powder, which is the most expensive ingredient in RUTF. Using alternative protein sources can be an option to reduce the production cost of RUTF and could increase access to treatment for children with acute malnutrition. This guideline discusses the feasibility of alternative RUTF formulations through an evidence-to-decision framework.
The document describes the evidence and includes data used to come to the final decision. Based on research and data evidence, it is recommended that Standard RUTF should be used for treating children with malnutrition. Alternative RUTF formulations with less dairy or no dairy protein can be used but only within research and evaluation settings.
Information on the future implementation of this guideline is provided at the end of the document. Overall, suppliers can use this document for guidance and context when considering new RUTF formulations.