For two U.S.-based producers of lifesaving peanut paste to feed severely malnourished children, the past week has been whiplash.
Edesia and Mana Nutrition, nonprofits whose products help save millions of children’s lives annually, received notices last Wednesday that their multimillion-dollar contracts with the U.S. government had been canceled — and that the flow of the companies’ ready-to-use therapeutic foods, or RUTFs, was being terminated “for convenience and the interests of the USG.”
They were forced to halt their production lines, freezing 1.5 million cartons of the nutrient-rich food across the supply chain — enough treatment for up to 5 million children. But just 24 hours later, Edesia’s contract termination was rescinded, and 72 hours after that, Mana Nutrition’s contract was restored. Last month, they each received stop-work orders that were later rescinded too. Neither has received an explanation or apology for what had happened — and instead of celebrating, both organizations have been left shaken by all the uncertainty.