Ready to Use Therapeutic Food(RUTF) in the management of severe acute malnutrition in India.

Home-based management has many advantages as the children have reduced exposure to hospitalacquired infections and receive continuity of care after discharge. It also benefits by increasing the time available to mothers to spend with family and reduces the risk of possible neglect of siblings. Also, mothers are able to look after other family responsibilities simultaneously(1,2). An essential component of home-based management for children with severe acute malnutrition is administration of RUTF, to meet their routine nutritional requirements and support catch-up growth. WHO has recommended that such RUTF should be produced locally by each country, keeping in view the International Standards(4).