Table 1
Cost Comparison of General Distribution Food Aid and Specialized Products
Type of product
Description
Population targeted
Cost per daily
ration or dose
Grain-based rations Representative
complementary
ration
Ration of grain, pulse, CSB, and
vegetable oil
Children 6–8 months
and 12–23 months old
$0.019 and
$0.05
CSB-based rations
CSB
Fortified blended food made of
processed cornmeal, soy flour,
soybean oil, vitamins, and minerals
Small children
and pregnant and
lactating women
0.06–0.12
CSB+
Similar to CSB but formulated with
improved micronutrient profile
Small children and
pregnant and lactating
women
0.08–0.16
CSB++
Similar to CSB+, but also contains
milk powder, dehulled soy, oil, sugar,
and tighter microbiological
specifications
Young children,
6 months to 2 years old
0.24
Small children,
school-aged children,
general population
0.03
Micronutrient
powders
Product
Micronutrient
Powders made of vitamins and
powder–15 vitamins minerals sprinkled on prepared food
and minerals
MixMe Plus™
Nutritional
supplements
Nutributter®
0.04
Peanuts, sugar, vegetable oil, nonfat
milk powder, whey, maltodextrin,
vitamins, and minerals
Ready-to-use
High energy biscuits Wheat flour, vegetable shortening,
supplementary foods
sugars, soy flour, skimmed milk
(RUSF)
powder, vitamins, and minerals
Young children 6–24
months old
0.11
Children 6 months
and older
0.12
RUFC India
0.13
Plumpy’Doz®
Paste of vegetable oil, sugar, peanuts,
nonfat milk powder, maltodextrin,
whey, cocoa, vitamins, and minerals
Young children 6-36
months
0.20
Supplementary
Plumpy’®
Ready-to-use
therapeutic food
(RUTF)
A chickpea-based product comparable Young children 6 months
to Supplementary’ Plumpy® and
and older
Plumpy’Doz®
Paste of vegetable oil, sugar, peanuts,
soy protein isolates, maltodextrin,
whey, vitamins, and minerals
Young children 6 months
and older
0.33
Plumpy’Nut®
Ready-to-use paste composed of
vegetable oil, sugar, peanuts, nonfat
milk powder, whey, maltodextrin,
vitamins, and minerals
Children 6 months
and older
0.41
Save the Children
Source: GAO analysis based on various studies.
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