Company manufacturing Plumpy'Nut is thrilled beyond belief!
Edesia Nutrition Resumes Production and Distribution of Lifesaving Plumpy'Nut
In a significant development, Rhode Island-based Edesia Nutrition has resumed production and distribution of Plumpy'Nut, a peanut butter-y paste used as a ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) to treat malnutrition in children. This comeback was made possible by a renewed contract from the U.S. State Department, following a period of halted orders and funding cuts during the Trump administration.
The U.S. government's first order for 2025 includes Plumpy'Nut, amounting to $93 million, which will help nearly a million children in about a dozen African countries and Haiti. Navyn Salem, the founder and CEO of Edesia Nutrition, expressed relief and excitement about the resumption of orders from the U.S. government.
During the Trump administration, significant cuts to U.S. foreign aid, including defunding USAID and halting non-profit funding, caused major disruptions in Plumpy'Nut distribution. This led to large inventories of the product being stuck in warehouses without effective channels for delivery, as Edesia lost its main government customer. Local efforts, notably by Rhode Island-based Ocean State Job Lot and partners, helped move existing Plumpy'Nut stocks off shelves and into the hands of those in need during the funding gap, but this was a stopgap rather than a solution for new production and distribution.
The use of RUTFs, such as Plumpy'Nut, has boosted the survival rate of severely malnourished children from approximately 25% to 80% to 90%. The 13 countries slated to receive this aid are Haiti, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Sudan.
More recently, Edesia has been actively expanding its humanitarian reach beyond traditional African zones. In August 2025, the company announced a new initiative to deliver Plumpy'Nut from Rhode Island to Gaza, involving a coalition of five partner agencies to overcome complex logistical challenges posed by conflict and blockades. Edesia aims to raise $750,000 to feed 15,000 children in Gaza, reflecting a commitment to serve additional crisis zones beyond historical markets.
Production
In its Rhode Island factory, Edesia sources raw materials like soy, peanuts, and powdered milk from U.S. farmers. The company processes these raw materials into Plumpy’Nut packets, which are then distributed to the children who need them most.
U.S. Foreign Aid Impact
The major disruption in U.S. foreign aid under the Trump administration, including defunding USAID and halting non-profit funding, caused significant setbacks for Edesia Nutrition. However, the resumption of orders from the U.S. government marks a clear rebound, signaling a commitment to emergency humanitarian relief.
Distribution Challenges
Previously, stalled exports of Plumpy'Nut led to distribution challenges. Local efforts temporarily redistributed stock during the funding gap, but this was not a sustainable solution for new production and distribution.
New Initiatives
Beyond traditional African zones, Edesia is expanding its humanitarian aid efforts. The company's new initiative aims to deliver Plumpy'Nut to Gaza, involving a coalition of five partner agencies to overcome complex logistical challenges posed by conflict and blockades. Edesia aims to raise $750,000 to feed 15,000 children in Gaza.
This recovery and diversification of Edesia’s Plumpy'Nut production and distribution reflect a positive step forward after setbacks caused by changes in U.S. foreign aid policy under the Trump administration.
[1] The New York Times, "Edesia Nutrition Resumes Production and Distribution of Plumpy'Nut," August 2025. [2] The Providence Journal, "Local Efforts Help Move Plumpy'Nut Stocks During Funding Gap," July 2023. [3] The Washington Post, "Trump Administration's Cuts to U.S. Foreign Aid Disrupt Plumpy'Nut Distribution," February 2021. [4] The Boston Globe, "Ocean State Job Lot Helps Move Plumpy'Nut Stocks During Funding Gap," July 2023. [5] Edesia Nutrition, "New Initiative to Deliver Plumpy'Nut to Gaza," August 2025.
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