TODDLER FOOD PARTNERS

Toddler Food Partners (TFP) focuses on the manufacturing process of a therapeutic food that helps prevent and treat severe malnourishment in children in developing cojntries. Their key role is selecting and obtaining the necessary equipment to manufacture the food on site. TFP, an all-volunteer organization, works with partner organizations that already have established sites in the developing world. All donations support the evaluation, design, selection, modification, assembly, acquisition, installation and support of equipment to manufacture Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) locally.

RUTF is a peanut butter type mixture made with locally available ingredients to the extent possible and supplemented with vitamins and minerals. After extensive research in the developing world, it was endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2007. It is now the established treatment to combat severe malnutrition worldwide.

Under medical supervision, the parent(s) of children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) are given a supply of RUTF to take home. The parent simply feeds it to their child three times a day for two weeks then returns for another medical check and another supply of RUTF. A typical course of treatment lasts 4 to 6 weeks.

Toddler Food Partners helps obtain the equipment necessary to manufacture RUTF at a local level in developing countries. Donations and volunteers help support our projects. One of our volunteers has pledged to match the first $5000 raised to fight SAM in India.

TFP is currently working with partners on two major projects:

Making RUTF in Haiti: TFP has worked with our partner Meds and Food for Kids for several years. We helped as they grew from a small hand operated factory to a modern facility with automated equipment that is currently under construction.

MNT for Kids in India: TFP is currently working with Sion hospital in Mumbai. We helped equip and commission a factory to produce Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), an RUTF like product, that is being used in a clinical study treating SAM at the hospital. Donations designated for this project are eligible for the matching grant above.