Training course on the inpatient management of severe

acute malnutrition: Module 4. Feeding

Web Annex B.
Ready‑to‑use therapeutic food
reference table
Key Messages
• Ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) is a food and medicine for severely
malnourished individuals. It should not be shared.
• Sick children often don’t like to eat. Give small amounts of RUTF regularly and
encourage the child to eat often until the day’s ration is finished.
• RUTF should never be added to or mixed with porridge or any other food.
• Your child should have (x) packets a day.
• For young children, continue breastfeeding on demand. Always breastfeed fully
before giving the child RUTF.
• Always give the child RUTF after breastfeeding but before other food, including
corn-soy blend.
• Always give the child plenty of breast milk or safe water to drink while eating
RUTF. Children will need to drink more than normal.
• Use soap to wash the child’s hands and ensure that the child is clean before
feeding. Keep food clean and covered.
• Children who are malnourished get cold quickly. Always keep the child covered
and warm.
• Do not stop feeding when the child has diarrhoea. Refer children with diarrhoea
for clinical assessment. Increase the frequency of breastfeeding. After feeding
the child RUTF, give him/her extra clean water

1
 Reference Table for Amounts of RUTF to Give Children per Day or Week, based on 92 g
Packets Containing 500 kcal
Weight of Child (kg) Packets per Day Packets per Week
3.5–3.9 1.5 10
4.0–4.4 1.5 11
4.5–4.9 1.75 12
5.0–5.9 2 14
6.0–6.9 2.5 17
7.0–7.9 3 20
8.0–8.9 3.25 23
9.0–9.9 3.75 26
10.0–11.9 4 28
≥12.0 5 35

WHO/HEP/NFS/21.9
© World Health Organization 2021.
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