Optimized plant-based peanut- and milk-free RUTF meets protein quality standards and demonstrates favourable maternal acceptability

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Conventional ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) rely on peanut and milk ingredients, contributing to high cost, allergen concerns and import dependency in low-resource settings. This study developed and evaluated a peanut- and milk-free, plant-based RUTF optimized using linear programming and formulated from soybean, Bambara groundnut and sorghum, with Moringa oleifera leaf powder incorporated as a partial micronutrient premix. We hypothesized that optimized plant-based formulations would meet nutritional standards and achieve acceptable protein quality and caregiver approval. Linear programming generated formulations meeting Codex/World Health Organization energy density (520–550 kcal/100 g) and macronutrient specifications. Five formulations were selected from eighteen candidate formulations based on laboratory validation and < 10% nutrient deviation. Protein quality was assessed using in vitro in vitro digestibility and protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS). Instrumental colour parameters were measured, and caregiver acceptability (n = 25) was evaluated using a 9-point hedonic scale and focus group discussions. All selected formulations met targeted energy and macronutrient requirements. In vitro protein digestibility ranged from 71.0% to 82.0%, and PDCAAS values ranged from 60.0% to 65.8%, meeting recommended thresholds for children aged 24–59 months. Increasing M. oleifera inclusion significantly reduced lightness and increased browning index ( p < 0.05). However, formulations combining M. oleifera with a standard vitamin–mineral premix achieved the highest overall acceptability scores. Caregivers expressed conditional willingness to purchase the product if affordable. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of producing nutritionally adequate, plant-based RUTFs from locally available crops with acceptable caregiver approval, supporting development of alternatives to imported peanut- and milk-based products.

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