Heinrich, Graham, DeLauro Urge USDA to Include Vital Malnutrition Treatments in International Food Aid Program

WASHINGTON – Today, in a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) are calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure nutritional needs are met for those suffering from the most severe forms of hunger by including Ready-To-Use-Therapeutic Foods (RUTF), a proven treatment for malnutrition, in its international food assistance program.

Currently, RUTFs do not qualify as an eligible commodity for purchase and donation in the international food assistance program known as the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). 

RUTF are made from U.S. commodities sourced in 28 states and are the single most effective treatment for child malnutrition. RUTF brings children suffering from the most severe form of malnutrition – known as “wasting” – back from the brink of death in a matter of six weeks. With a recovery rate of up to 90%, it’s cost effective at about $1 per day per child.

“We ask that you reconsider your determination that Ready-To-Use-Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) do not qualify as an eligible commodity for purchase and donation in the CCC international food assistance program,” the lawmakers wrote. “We request the program use all applicable CCC authorities to ensure nutritional needs are met for those suffering from the most severe forms of hunger.”

“In 2022, the Biden Administration scaled its investment of RUTF to $200 million, which was further bolstered by an additional $270 million from philanthropic donors and other governments. This investment allowed nearly 7.3 million more children suffering from wasting to receive lifesaving treatment than the year before. USDA, leveraging CCC funds and working with USAID, is positioned to sustain this progress by including RUTFs in the CCC International Food Aid program,” the lawmakers continued.

The lawmakers concluded, “We respectfully request that you use all available authorities to ensure this funding commitment is implemented in a way that most effectively addresses the global hunger and malnutrition crisis now.”  

The full text of the letter is HERE and below. 

Dear Secretary Vilsack,

We write to thank you for your October 2023 announcement of a $1 billion investment in the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to help address global hunger. We ask that you reconsider your determination that Ready-To-Use-Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) do not qualify as an eligible commodity for purchase and donation in your CCC international food assistance program. We request the program use all applicable CCC authorities to ensure nutritional needs are met for those suffering from the most severe forms of hunger. 

According to the United Nations (UN) World Food Progamme (WFP), the number of people facing acute food insecurity has increased from 135 million in 53 countries in 2020 to 309 million in 72 countries in 2024. Additionally, nearly 150 million children suffer from malnutrition. This funding announcement signifies your commitment to addressing this crisis in an efficient manner, while also supporting American producers.

We understand USDA is using authorities under Section 5(d) of the CCC Charter Act to “remove and dispose of or aid in the removal or disposition of surplus agricultural commodities (other than tobacco).” We encourage you to use authorities from Section 5(c), to “procure agricultural commodities (other than tobacco) for sale to other Government agencies, foreign governments, and domestic, foreign or international relief or rehabilitation agencies, and to meet domestic requirements.”

Further, the use of Section 5(c) will allow both USDA and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) greater flexibility to expand the number of American farmers that can assist in addressing global hunger. Using the broadest authorities possible under the CCC will allow for purchases of a broader range of commodities, including RUTFs. Section 2 of the CCC Charter Act refers to agricultural commodities collectively as “agricultural commodities, products thereof, foods, feeds, and fibers.”

RUTF are made from U.S. commodities sourced in 28 states and are the single most effective treatment for child malnutrition. RUTF brings children suffering from the most severe form of malnutrition – known as “wasting” – back from the brink of death in a matter of six weeks. With a recovery rate of up to 90%, it’s cost effective at about $1 per day per child. Ingredients include peanuts, milk powder, soybean oil/soy protein, sugar, and a special vitamin mix. In 2022, the Biden Administration scaled its investment of RUTF to $200 million, which was further bolstered by an additional $270 million from philanthropic donors and other governments. This investment allowed nearly 7.3 million more children suffering from wasting to receive lifesaving treatment than the year before. USDA, leveraging CCC funds and working with USAID, is positioned to sustain this progress by including RUTFs in the CCC International Food Aid program.

We greatly appreciate your leadership and commitment to addressing global hunger and supporting American producers.  We respectfully request that you use all available authorities to ensure this funding commitment is implemented in a way that most effectively addresses the global hunger and malnutrition crisis now.