Meds & Food for Kids

Meds & Food for Kids, commonly known as MFK, is a nonprofit organization focused on treating and preventing child malnutrition in Haiti. Its central intervention is the manufacture and distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a nutrient-dense peanut-based product called Medika Mamba, a Haitian Creole expression meaning “Peanut Butter Medicine.” The product is intended primarily for children with severe acute malnutrition and is designed to be used in settings where refrigeration, clean water, and reliable medical infrastructure may be limited. MFK was founded in 2004 by Pat Wolff, MD, a pediatrician from St. Louis, Missouri. Wolff’s connection with Haiti began in 1988, when she traveled there with the Haiti Project, a mission group. She later volunteered at Mother Teresa’s homes for dying children and adults and spent approximately fifteen years serving as a volunteer pediatrician at a village clinic. These experiences informed MFK’s emphasis on locally adapted nutrition programs rather than relying only on imported medical treatments. In March 2011, Wolff left her private pediatric practice to work full time for the organization. MFK produces Medika Mamba at a factory in Cap-Haïtien using Haitian employees and, where feasible, locally sourced agricultural inputs. The formulation combines ground peanuts, powdered milk, sugar, oil, and vitamins. It does not require refrigeration or the addition of water, which simplifies treatment in communities affected by poverty, weak infrastructure, or emergencies. A typical treatment course lasts approximately six to eight weeks and uses about 25 pounds of the product, according to the organization’s description in reference material. The organization’s work extends beyond factory production. MFK operates an agricultural development program intended to increase the use and quality of Haitian raw materials, particularly peanuts. Its agronomists work with farmers on soil preparation, seed selection and spacing, and crop-protection practices. A related processing effort addresses aflatoxin and other contaminants, which are important food-safety concerns in peanut supply chains. This approach links nutritional treatment with local agricultural development and quality control. In 2010, MFK joined the PlumpyField Network, a group of independent producers associated with Nutriset’s nutritional-solutions network. Membership provides access to production equipment, technical knowledge, and quality-assurance practices intended to support compliance with international standards. MFK has also participated in research and education initiatives. In December 2011, it received a competitive USDA McGovern-Dole Food for Education grant to develop a school-snack program through Haiti’s National School Lunch Program. Separately, MFK worked with Washington University in St. Louis and Konbit Sante, together with Haiti’s Ministry of Health, on research involving Nutributter in an urban slum community. The project sought to improve understanding of feeding practices among extremely poor households. MFK is described as a United States-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and a registered nongovernmental organization in Haiti. Its funding model relies primarily on grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations. The organization’s leadership changed in 2022, when Chris Greene succeeded Suzanne Langlois as chief executive officer. Its overall positioning combines humanitarian nutrition, Haitian production, agricultural capacity building, and applied public-health research.

Meds & Food for Kids was established in 2004 by Pat Wolff, MD, a pediatrician from St. Louis, Missouri, whose professional relationship with Haiti began well before the organization’s creation. Wolff first visited Haiti in 1988 with the Haiti Project, a mission group. She subsequently volunteered at Mother Teresa’s homes for dying children and adults and served for roughly fifteen years as a volunteer pediatrician at a village clinic. Her exposure to child illness, poverty, and limited access to clinical nutrition helped shape MFK’s practical focus on treating malnutrition with a food that could be used outside conventional hospital settings. The organization’s principal product is Medika Mamba, a Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food. The Haitian Creole name translates broadly as “Peanut Butter Medicine.” Its formulation uses ground peanuts, powdered milk, sugar, oil, and vitamins. Because it is shelf-stable and can be consumed without adding water, it avoids two common barriers in emergency and low-resource nutrition programs: the need for refrigeration and the need for safe water for preparation. MFK describes the product as a treatment for children with severe acute malnutrition, with a normal course lasting approximately six to eight weeks. MFK manufactures Medika Mamba at a facility in Cap-Haïtien, employing Haitian workers and seeking to source Haitian agricultural materials when possible. Its production model is therefore connected to a broader development agenda. The organization’s agricultural program works with peanut farmers on cultivation practices such as soil preparation, seed and row spacing, and crop-protection methods. Its processing work focuses on monitoring aflatoxin and other contaminants that can compromise the safety of peanut-based foods. This combination of therapeutic-food production and agricultural support distinguishes MFK from organizations that only distribute imported nutrition products. In 2010, MFK joined Nutriset’s PlumpyField Network, an international community of independent producers of nutrition solutions for vulnerable populations. The network supports members with machinery, technical capacity, and quality-assurance systems. MFK subsequently expanded its attention to school nutrition and applied research. In December 2011, it received a USDA McGovern-Dole Food for Education grant for a school-snack program associated with Haiti’s National School Lunch Program. It also partnered with Washington University in St. Louis and Konbit Sante, in cooperation with Haiti’s Ministry of Health, on a study involving the nutritional supplement Nutributter in an urban slum community. The research was intended to identify better ways of supporting feeding practices among extremely poor families. Wolff left her private pediatric practice in March 2011 to devote herself to MFK. Later leadership included Suzanne Langlois, who served as chief executive before Chris Greene succeeded her in 2022. MFK is registered as a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit and as a nongovernmental organization in Haiti. Grants, corporate sponsors, and individual donors provide its principal sources of support. The organization’s history is consequently defined by an integrated model: manufacture a locally adapted therapeutic food, build Haitian agricultural and production capacity, participate in public-health research, and connect nutrition treatment with education and community programs.

• 2022

  Chris Greene becomes chief executive

  [1]Meds & Food for Kidsen.wikipedia.org

  Chris Greene succeeded Suzanne Langlois as chief executive officer.

• 2011

  Pat Wolff moves to full-time MFK work

  [1]Meds & Food for Kidsen.wikipedia.org

  Wolff left her private pediatric practice in March to devote her time to the organization.

• 2011

  USDA school-nutrition grant

  [1]Meds & Food for Kidsen.wikipedia.org

  MFK received a McGovern-Dole Food for Education grant to develop a school-snack program in Haiti.

• 2010

  Joined the PlumpyField Network

  [1]Meds & Food for Kidsen.wikipedia.org

  MFK joined Nutriset’s PlumpyField Network of independent producers of nutritional products.

• 2004

  Meds & Food for Kids founded

  [1]Meds & Food for Kidsen.wikipedia.org

  Pediatrician Pat Wolff founded MFK to address child malnutrition in Haiti.

• 1988

  Pat Wolff begins Haiti volunteer work

  [1]Meds & Food for Kidsen.wikipedia.org

  Pat Wolff first visited Haiti with the Haiti Project, beginning a long period of volunteer medical involvement in the country.

A Haiti-focused humanitarian nutrition organization combining locally produced therapeutic food, agricultural development, food-safety work, and child-health programming.

• Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food

  Medika Mamba

  Medika Mamba is MFK’s peanut-based Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food for treating severe acute malnutrition. It combines ground peanuts, powdered milk, sugar, oil, and vitamins. The product is designed to remain usable without refrigeration and does not require water to prepare, making it suitable for nutrition programs in settings with limited infrastructure. MFK manufactures it in Cap-Haïtien with Haitian employees and seeks to use locally sourced ingredients where possible.

• Nutritional supplement

  Nutributter

  Nutributter is a nutritional supplement referenced in MFK’s research partnership with Washington University in St. Louis, Konbit Sante, and Haiti’s Ministry of Health. The research examined how such supplementation could be used to improve feeding practices among households living in an urban slum community.

• 2011McGovern-Dole school-snack program

  Haiti

  MFK developed a school-snack initiative through Haiti’s National School Lunch Program with support from a USDA McGovern-Dole Food for Education grant.

  Outcome. The reference material identifies the grant and program-development objective but does not provide measured long-term outcomes.

  Source
• Local peanut farmer and agricultural development program

  Haiti

  MFK works with Haitian peanut farmers on cultivation, crop protection, and soil-management practices to strengthen local supply for therapeutic-food production.

  Outcome. The program is intended to increase the availability and quality of Haitian raw materials; the reference material does not provide quantified results.

  Source

• 2011

  Expand into school nutritionStrategy

  Background

  MFK sought to extend its child-nutrition work beyond therapeutic treatment into school-based food programs.

  Action taken

  The organization developed a school-snack program with support from the USDA McGovern-Dole Food for Education program.

  Aftermath

  The program was connected with Haiti’s National School Lunch Program; specific implementation results are not provided in the reference material.

  Source

• 2010

  Join the PlumpyField NetworkStrategy

  Background

  MFK needed access to production and quality-assurance capabilities supporting its therapeutic-food operation.

  Action taken

  The organization joined Nutriset’s PlumpyField Network of independent nutrition-product producers.

  Aftermath

  Membership provided access to machinery and quality-assurance resources intended to support international production standards.

  Source

1. 1Meds & Food for Kidsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Meds & Food for Kids official websitemfkhaiti.org