UNICEF to stakeholders: Selling RUTF is committing felony

Individuals selling Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) across the country have been warned that they are committing a felony and could face prosecution if caught.

This reminder was issued by UNICEF’s representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, who delivered a stern warning against the sale of RUTF.

She emphasised that “selling one pack of RUTF is equivalent to killing a child who needs it to survive. It is therefore a serious offense.”

Munduate made these comments in the Toro local government area of Bauchi State on Monday while answering questions from journalists after inspecting nutritional foods for nursing mothers and children supported by UNICEF.

She explained that RUTF is specially formulated for children, particularly those undergoing treatment for severe acute malnutrition (SAM), and reiterated that selling RUTF endangers children’s lives.

Munduate added, “RUTF is a medical therapeutic food designed solely for children. I have heard that some people are selling it, but I must warn that if adults consume this food, they may suffer negative effects.”

She concluded, “I have heard, although I cannot verify its accuracy, that some believe eating RUTF will make them stronger or more fertile. I want to clarify that this is false; consuming it may actually diminish these capacities, as it is formulated specifically for children and not for adults.”

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The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria added that, “Everybody needs to speak up whenever they see that the RUTFs are being misused, they should just report.This is a felony, it is a crime and you must know that whenever you sell RUTF, you are killing a child ‘

On the issue of Malnutrition in the state, the UNICEF Country’s Representative said that more than half of the children in the state have problems of chronic malnutrition, particularly in children under the age of five whose brain development has been affected as a result of malnutrition.

“Malnourished children will have problems of learning and intellectual capacity and this is something that has no way to fix. It is important for authorities in the state and the country at large to really do the necessary and take action in reducing chronic malnutrition,” She emphasised.

According to her, “The second issue is the number of Severe Acute malnutrition at the LGA level, these are children under one year of age and they are about to die because they are very sick and need urgent medical attention to remain alive.”

She added that, “What I see is that the people in the community at LGA level do not receive the necessary support like Budgets, but they are still trying.Toro LGA for example is Open defecation Free, but this is done by the efforts of the local authorities and the community, this success is theirs.”

Cristian Munduate stressed that, “We really want authorities at different levels to come in and help the different LGAs in Bauchi state. Right now, we have seen many of the wards in Toro LGA that have a food system that is working.This has helped in the prevention of malnutrition in children and women that are pregnant as well as given prosperity to the community.”

She stated that, “What UNICEF needs is more commitment from government at all levels, UNICEF is only providing support, but we cannot reach everybody.”

“The Nutrition fund needs to be signed in the state so that it can be of benefit to thousands of children. We heard the Governor has shown commitment to the fund which means that if the government puts One Naira, UNICEF will put One Naira for the good of the children,” She said.

Cristian Munduate also visited Dandaure village where She commemded efforts of rural women in producing local food to feed and stay healthy as well as their children especially those U-5.

The community members expressed gratitude for the support from UNICEF which has boosted their efforts in the production of the local food items.

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