NMPF and USDEC welcome a $100 million “Operation End Starvation” commitment and record Congressional funding for milk-powder-enriched Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods.
Reporting by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) details industry support for a new international food assistance partnership aimed at expanding the deployment of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF). Under the initiative, the U.S. Department of State will provide up to $100 million over two years through “Operation End Starvation” to deliver specialized nutrition assistance, building upon federal distributions of more than 27,000 metric tons of RUTFs that treated nearly 2.7 million severely malnourished children across 15 developing nations in the prior year.
U.S. milk powders serve as a core nutritional component in RUTF formulations, supplying high-quality, bioavailable dairy protein and essential micronutrients necessary to treat severe acute malnutrition and pediatric wasting. By incorporating nonfat dry milk and skim milk powder, these shelf-stable food interventions offer high caloric density and immediate physiological recovery benefits for vulnerable populations in emergency assistance zones.
The administration’s initiative reflects sustained joint advocacy by NMPF and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) to expand dairy’s role in international humanitarian programming. In February 2026, Congress approved a record $300 million in federal funding dedicated specifically to RUTF procurement. This legislative allocation reinforces the central position of American dairy ingredients in global feeding programs while establishing a reliable, high-volume commercial outlet for domestic dairy producers.
Beyond emergency relief, NMPF and USDEC submitted formal policy recommendations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on July 24, 2026, requesting broader integration of dairy within non-emergency Food for Peace initiatives. The organizations urged USDA to incorporate U.S. milk powders into institutional feeding and school milk programs via reconstituted fluid milk, increase federal procurement of dairy-fortified SuperCereal+ blends, and streamline distribution protocols for specialized dairy formulations.
Emphasizing dairy’s rigorous food safety standards, extended shelf life, and superior nutrient profile, NMPF highlights that expanded food aid procurement achieves dual objectives. In addition to delivering life-saving nutritional relief to food-insecure regions, prioritizing dairy ingredients introduces young consumers in emerging economies to American-produced dairy products, establishing early brand familiarity and fostering long-term international market development for the U.S. dairy sector.
Source: National Milk Producers Federation
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