Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) provides energy, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals to treat Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in children six to fifty-nine months of age. The product delivers 520 to 550 kilocalories per 100 grams of product. This includes 10 to 12 percent protein of which at least half must be from dairy sources, in addition to protein concentrates, vegetable proteins or protein isolates. RUTF may contain 45 to 60 percent fat in the form of canola or soybean oil. Additional components may include nuts, legumes, grains, and sweeteners. The micronutrient mix contains 24 vitamins and minerals. RUTF requires no preparation and may be consumed directly from the packaging in addition to clean drinking water.
In 2015, the Kaduna State Government in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) procured RUTF worth N75, 716,460 and in 2016 the Kaduna State Government in collaboration with UNICEF purchased additional RUTF for N750 million. Then in 2017, the KDSG budgeted the sum of N130m for the procurement of RUTF.