Could Peanut Butter be the solution to malnutrition?

Malnutrition affects 70% of children in Malawi, now an enriched peanut butter mixture is promoting recovery in large numbers of children. The nutrient-rich mixture contains peanuts, powdered milk, oil, sugar, and added vitamins and minerals. Produced in a Malawian factory, the mixture is given to the mothers of the children to feed at home. The Peanut Butter Project started in 2001 and currently produces about 300 tons of the mixture each year. Mark J. Manary, part of the research team said, “The peanut-butter feeding has been a quantum leap in feeding malnourished children in Africa. The recovery rates are a remarkable improvement from standard therapy.” Traditional treatment for malnourished children involves feeding them a corn-based porridge. However they would have to eat 25 spoonfuls of the porridge to equal the calorie density in one spoonful of the peanut butter mixture. The researchers believe the results show that it is possible to effectively address major health issues with straightforward solutions.