Consultancy: Expert Advice for Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) Codex Guideline, Medicines and Nutrition Centre, Supply Division, Cph

UNICEF Supply Division is looking for a consultant to support the area of Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods.

Consultancy: Expert Advice for Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF)

Codex Guideline

 

1. Magnesium Levels in Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF)
2. Gluten in RUTF, risks for infants and children with Severe Acute Malnutrition.

 

Duration: 40 working days (approximately 20 days for each technical topic)

Deadline: Reports and slide decks must be completed by December 31^st for UNICEF review.  

Location:  This consultancy will be done remotely

Start Date: September/October 2020

Reporting to: Medicines and Nutrition Centre, UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen

 

BACKGROUND:

UNICEF is a major buyer of therapeutic foods and related products which are used for management of children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in inpatient and outpatient contexts. As there are no official standards for RUTF, the process for a Codex guideline was initiated in 2016 by UNICEF, to provide the needed normative standards for this product. The Codex Alimentarius food standards, guidelines and Codes of Practice are internationally recognized technical reference documents that contribute to the safety, quality and fairness of international food trade Codex standards serve in many cases as a basis for national legislation.

Within the scope of the development of this RUTF Codex guideline, the minimum and maximum range of magnesium levels in the draft guideline are being reviewed.  

Codex Alimentarius has set up an electronic working group (eWG) to clearly define RUTFs in terms of:

1. Its composition and safety aspects related to suitable ingredients,
2. The nutritional composition as outlined in the 2007 Joint Statement by WHO, WFP, UNSCN and UNICEF,
3. Appropriate codex reference texts for relevant microbiological hazards and chemical contaminants (e.g. heavy metals, mycotoxins and pesticides),
4. Labelling requirements respectively to provide protection to vulnerable consumers of RUTF.

 

This consultancy concerns points 1,2 and 4.

Project 1

Magnesium Levels in RUTF

The first part of the consultancy as described above, concerns the minimum and maximum range for magnesium levels in the ingredients used in RUTF.

The consultant is required to,

1. Review the current evidence base of dietary needs of magnesium in infants and young children, and specifically in children with SAM,
2. Review the current scientific evidence base of safety for magnesium specifically in infants and children with SAM
3. Review typical levels of magnesium that may be found in the ingredients used to manufacture RUTF and then propose a range for magnesium for the RUTF Codex guideline (see annex 1)  
4. Propose a safe and effective range of magnesium for RUTF

 

The consultant will be required to produce and present a presentation (power point or similar slide deck) and a report. The materials will be shared in a webinar hosted by the Codex secretariat in February 2021. The consultant’s report may be shared with the member states working on the RUTF codex guideline in the format of a conference room document (CRD) at the Codex Committee for Nutrition Foods for Special Dietary Purposes (CCNFSDU) session in November 2020 to inform the committee’s deliberations on which limits to set for magnesium levels in RUTF based on raw material variability and current evidence.

The report will be used as a basis for a CRD at the next CCNFSDU.

 

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

To support UNICEFs contribution to the CODEX RUTF eWG work to define RUTFs in terms of magnesium levels in the ingredients used in RUTF, under the UNICEF Medicines and Nutrition Centre (MNC) workplan objective CCT#2[1] and CCT#28[2].

 

Specific objectives

To review the current evidence base and propose a level of magnesium specific to the SAM target group.

 

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:

1. Develop a methodology for collecting, synthesizing information and use the methodology to identify and document appropriate minimum and maximum ranges for magnesium that could be present in commonly used RUTF ingredients and RUTF as a finished product
2. Compile Codex and other internationally recognized standards (e.g: Codex Infant formula standards/EFSA/USFDA) and dietary intake references that could be relevant for the RUTF guideline
3. Identify and document gaps and limitations of Codex standards references with respect to RUTF and its target group.
4. Using relevant references identified, make proposal of the ranges possible levels of magnesium  to be considered in the elaboration of the RUTF Codex Guideline, referring to the ingredients in the draft Codex Guideline for RUTF under development: http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252FMeetings%252FCX-720-41%252FWD%252Fnf41_06e.pdf
5. The consultant will need to have their own access, or a means to access the relevant published literature on magnesium and SAM.

 

KEY DELIVERABLES:

Key Deliverables – Expert Advice on Magnesium content in RUTF	Duration (Estimated # of days)	Deadline
Methodology for collecting and synthesizing information agreed with UNICEF	1	TBD
First report writing documenting variability of ranges of magnesium levels that could be present in RUTF ingredients and consequently RUTF as a finished product	7	TBD
Second report writing stage adding Compilation of appropriate Codex standards and dietary intake references that could be relevant for the CODEX RUTF guideline Gaps and limitations of Codex standards and references with respect to for RUTF and its target group.	5	TBD
Presentation developed summarising 1,2 & 3 sections of the TOR key deliverables.	1
Final report writing stage adding The conclusions and recommendation on possible ranges to be considered in the elaboration of the RUTF Codex Guideline	3
Final consultancy report after UNICEF review and a PowerPoint slide deck to present the process and outcome of the consultancy - approved by UNICEF	3
TOTAL	20 days

 

Project 2

Gluten containing ingredients in RUTF

The second part of the consultancy as described above, concerns the risk of gluten containing ingredients used in RUTF. In the last CCNFSDU meeting the Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS) proposed that RUTF guidelines should stipulate the RUTF is gluten free due to the risks associated with the introduction of gluten in infancy, the prevalence of undiagnosed coeliac disease in many developing countries where RUTF is programmed, and the lack of clear diagnostic differentiation between SAM and coeliac disease[3].  

The consultant is required to,

1. Provide a summary of the current evidence of gluten intolerance and coeliac disease pathology, describing the potential risks for infants and beneficiaries of RUTF
2. Review the current evidence base of gluten intolerance and coeliac diseases in infants and young children, and specifically in children with SAM,
3. Review formulation data from suppliers in their proposed formulations and estimate the level of gluten that could be consumed during a typical treatment period
4. Propose a recommendation for RUTF and its gluten status, and suggested wording for the RUTF guideline.

 

The consultant will be required to produce and present a power point (or similar slide deck) and a report. The materials will be shared in a webinar hosted by the Codex secretariat in February 2021. The consultant’s report may be shared with the member states working on the RUTF codex guideline in the format of a CRD at the Codex Committee for Nutrition Foods for Special Dietary Purposes (CCNFSDU).

CCNFSDU session in November 2021 to inform the committee’s deliberations on acceptability of gluten containing grains in RUTF.

 

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

To support UNICEFs contribution to the CODEX RUTF eWG work to define the text and nutritional limits for RUTFs as part of the UNICEF Medicines and Nutrition Centre (MNC) workplan objective CCT#2[4] and CCT#28[5].

 

Specific objectives

To review the current evidence base for gluten intolerance and coeliac disease in individuals with SAM and propose a recommendation for the codex guideline.

 

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:

 

6. Develop a methodology for collecting, synthesizing information and use the methodology to identify and document the relevant literature
7. Compile Codex and other internationally recognized standards (e.g: Codex Infant formula standards/EFSA/USFDA) that could be relevant for the RUTF guideline
8. Identify and document gaps and limitations of Codex standards references with respect to RUTF and its target group.
9. Using relevant references identified, make proposal of the statement referring to gluten be considered in the elaboration of the RUTF Codex Guideline, referring to the ingredients in the draft Codex Guideline for RUTF under development: http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252FMeetings%252FCX-720-41%252FWD%252Fnf41_06e.pdf
10. The consultant will need to have their own access, or a means to access the relevant published literature on gluten, coeliac’ s disease and SAM.

 

KEY DELIVERABLES:

Key Deliverables – Expert Advice on Gluten content in RUTF	Duration (Estimated # of days)	Deadline
Methodology for collecting and synthesizing information agreed with UNICEF	1	TBD
First report writing documenting the risks of gluten containing RUTF for the target population	7	TBD
Second report writing stage adding Compilation of appropriate Codex standards and references that could be relevant for the CODEX RUTF guideline Gaps and limitations of Codex standards and references with respect to for RUTF and its target group.	5	TBD
Presentation developed summarising 1,2 & 3 sections of the TOR key deliverables.	1
Final report writing stage adding The conclusions and recommendation on possible ranges to be considered in the elaboration of the RUTF Codex Guideline	3
Final consultancy report after UNICEF review and a PowerPoint slide deck to present the process and outcome of the consultancy - approved by UNICEF	3
TOTAL	20 days

 

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

Advanced university degree in one or more of the following areas: Food Technology, Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition or other relevant discipline.

 

Work Experience:

7-10 years of professional work experience in nutrition research, pediatrics, public health or related field. Specific expertise in malnutrition and working with international regulatory or standard setting bodies such as EFSA or Codex is highly desirable.  

Technical Competencies and Expertise:

• Knowledge of Codex standards, product specifications development, and risk management.
• Ability to critically analyze and synthesize information such as food nutrient values and peer review literature
• Knowledge and understanding of the pathology and programs for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is an added advantage.

 

Competencies:

1)   Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

2)  Core Competencies

• Communication 
• Drive for Result
• Working with People

 

3)  Key Functional Competencies

• Applying Technical Expertise
• Analyzing
• Relating and Networking
• Deciding and Initiating Actions
• Planning and Organizing

 

Language:

An excellent command of spoken and written English is required.

Fluency in another UN language e.g. French is an asset.

 

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

• Cover letter/application.
• Financial quote at a daily rate in US Dollars excluding all taxes.
• CV.
• At least one example of previous, relevant work.
• Brief proposal on how to accomplish the consultancy. The timeframes included in the tables for the two projects may be adapted for the proposal– they are estimates and are provided as a guide only.
• At least 2 References

P 11 form (which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html).

 

Annex 1

Proposed magnesium levels in RUTF draft codex CX/NFSDU 19/41/66 (note the stike-thru is the proposal to be considered in the next meeting):

 

Ingredients containing magnesium typically used in RUTF are:

seeds	cereals	legumes	dairy	other
Sesame, sunflower, almonds	Sorghum, millet, oats, maize (corn), wheat/semolina, rice	Peanut; lentils, bengal gram; soy flour, soy flour defatted Soy protein isolate; chick peas/chana, cow peas, beans, mung beans	Whey powder Whole milk powder, skim milk powder, whey permeates	Fish, locally available small whole fish