UNSPSC 42231818: Ready-to-use food (RTUF) for children

RUTF is used to help the millions of children threatened by acute malnutrition worldwide. The peanut-based paste doesn't require refrigeration and stays fresh for up to two years. Best of all, no mixing with potentially contaminated water is required.

UNSPSC 42231818 Ready-to-use food (RTUF) for children is a Commodity code. State and local government procurement under this code focuses on prepackaged, shelf-stable, and unitized meal kits and components designed for school breakfast and lunch programs, congregate nutrition services for seniors, summer feeding initiatives, and institutional food service in corrections and emergency management contexts. Recent solicitations show school districts and county education authorities as the primary buyers, purchasing individual breakfast kits assembled from branded cereals, grains, juices, proteins, fruits, and milk products; shelf-stable meal boxes for summer feeding programs; and prepared menu items meeting USDA nutritional standards and Buy American requirements. Issuers range from independent school districts (Katy ISD, Liberty County Board of Education, Wicomico and Worcester Counties Public Schools, Douglas County School System) to county health and human services departments procuring senior congregate and home-delivered meals, and state departments managing corrections and emergency preparedness food contracts. One standout recent activity involves the Illinois Department of Corrections' emergency purchase of certified prepackaged halal meals ($1,856,493.90) awarded to Performance Food Group (Vistar) on June 22, 2026.

Geographic activity centers on Georgia (Douglas County, Liberty County, Clayton County, Wicomico and Worcester Counties in Maryland), Florida (Hillsborough County, Seminole County), Pennsylvania (Montgomery County), Texas (Katy ISD), Connecticut (City of New Haven), Wisconsin (Milwaukee County), and Illinois (Department of Corrections). Representative recent opportunities include the City of New Haven Board of Education requesting unitized breakfast proposals for 182–190 instructional days in 2026–2027 (RFP 2026HYRFPCNH349, due June 23, 2026, with 25% MWBE participation goal); Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners seeking senior meal preparation and delivery services across 25 locations, estimated at $17,832,659.90 over three years (ITB 26-00289, due June 25, 2026, requiring Florida Department of Elderly Affairs caterer licensure); Montgomery County Office of Aging Services procuring home-delivered meals for homebound seniors aged 60 and over with unit pricing negotiated per meal format (RFP 26-23, due May 21, 2026, three-year initial term); and Liberty County Board of Education requesting purchase and distribution of over 400 food items for 13 school sites (IFB for Food SY26-27, due April 29, 2026, with weekly delivery required). Commodity purchasing under this code relies on firm fixed pricing, HACCP or food service licensure compliance, nutritional analysis and USDA Buy American verification, and insurance requirements ranging from $500,000 to $2 million in general liability coverage depending on contract scope.