Ready to Use Therapeutic Food; Nutrient-Enriched Food Used to Treat Severe Acute Malnutrition
Ready to use therapeutic food (RUTF) is nutrient-enriched food used to treat malnutrition in children. It is an energy-dense, vitamin- and mineral-enriched food that requires no preparation and is used to treat severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Ready to use therapeutic food products are prepared in factories, using approved standards and guidelines. The manufacturing process ensures that the nutrients are not destroyed during processing. They are high in vitamins and minerals and are excellent sources for energy and protein. The manufacturing of such foods is the ideal alternative for people who do not have time to prepare nutritious meals at home. Skimmed milk is an example of ready to use therapeutic food . Although it may not fulfill all the required components of a balanced diet, it provides a number of very important nutrients including calcium, protein, iron, zinc, vitamins A, C, and E, riboflavin, folic acid, potassium, sodium, and phosphorus. Research has shown that vitam...