Overview

This is a product specification of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) paste, a high-energy fortified food used for the treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). RUTF paste is used as a sole source of food, except for breast milk in the case of breast-fed infants, during the period of SAM treatment for children aged 6 to 59 months with severe wasting, without medical complications and with an appetite. The product comes ready to eat directly from the sachet without prior cooking, mixing or dilution. Each package has the same nutritional value for control and monitoring of dietary intake.

The document outlines the instructions for product use, target population, technical specifications including specific nutrition/vitamin/mineral composition per unit, the international standards, processing methods, food safety and risk assessment at manufacturing premises, hygiene and microbiology requirements, analytical requirements, and specific packaging and labeling details. Information regarding proper product storage, shelf life and stability are also included. Relevant Codex documents are referenced throughout the specification sheet.

The document states that the vitamins and minerals used within the RUTF product must be in accordance with examples of mineral forms found in the WHO Management of Severe Malnutrition: A manual for Physicians and other Senior Health Workers (1999). The mineral and vitamin premix(es) must be supplied from suitably qualified premix facilities. RUTF suppliers must validate their premix supplier to ensure the quality of the premix facility.

Overall, this document provides information on the intended use, specification, acceptable limits and processing methods for CAR-150 RUTF paste. This document can be used by suppliers and manufacturers to ensure their product meets the indicated specifications.

Link to Document

Product-Specification-Ready-to-Use- Therapeutic Food (RUTF)