Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area Delle Scienze, Parma, Italy.
CUCI University Center for the International Cooperation, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2022 Dec;73(8):993-1004. doi: 10.1080/09637486.2022.2119213. Epub 2022 Sep 5.
"Commercial" Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) are used in acute malnutrition management, but they are not always appropriate being expensive and unfamiliar. Much research has tried to develop alternative RUTF formulations and this work systematically reviewed eight articles discussing the approaches used to assess the children's sensory satisfaction, families' acceptance, and the cultural appropriateness of 13 alternative RUTFs. Different approaches were used by the authors and much research to standardise methodologies and findings is urgent to ensure that food products are culturally appropriate, acceptable and appreciated, with the final aim of completing the development process of alternative RUTFs. This work proposed some indications to follow in alternative RUTF acceptability evaluation processing. Moreover, community engagement and education resulted key aspects in alternative RUTF acceptance. An innovative, multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder approach could develop alternative "fit-for-the-purpose" RUTFs to help food-insecure communities acquire sufficient, safe, nutritious food in long-term Community Management of Acute Malnutrition.
商业性即食治疗食品（RUTF）用于急性营养不良管理，但由于其昂贵且不熟悉，并不总是合适的。许多研究试图开发替代 RUTF 配方，这项工作系统地审查了八篇文章，讨论了评估 13 种替代 RUTF 的儿童感官满意度、家庭接受度和文化适宜性的方法。作者使用了不同的方法，迫切需要进行更多的研究来标准化方法和研究结果，以确保食品具有文化适宜性、可接受性和可欣赏性，最终目的是完成替代 RUTF 的开发过程。这项工作提出了在替代 RUTF 可接受性评估过程中需要遵循的一些指示。此外，社区参与和教育是替代 RUTF 接受的关键方面。创新的、多学科的、多利益相关者的方法可以开发出“适合用途”的替代 RUTF，以帮助粮食不安全社区在长期的社区急性营养不良管理中获得充足、安全、营养的食物。
