Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) remains a major contributor to under-five mortality in Nigeria, with Zamfara State among the most affected. Standard Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) is effective but reliance on imported milk based RUTF poses sustainability challenges due to high cost, stock-outs and insecurity. Edible insects such as desert locust Schistocerca gregaria offer sustainable, protein and mineral-rich alternatives with date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera) as an alternative natural sweetener. In global conflicts, war, pandemic and security disadvantaged regions where accesses to Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) are limited, locally formulated RUTF, may be a crucial intervention for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition and hidden hunger among under-five. This study aimed to formulate, evaluate nutrient composition and assess acceptability of insect protein-based RUTF for community management of SAM among children under five in Zamfara State, Nigeria. This study formulated RUTF using local ingredients, dried grounded groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), grasshopper (Schistocerca gregaria), Date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera), and vegetable oil were sourced from Gusau new market, Zamfara State. Materials were sorted, washed with clean water, dried at room temperature, roasted (180oC for 46 minutes), airing for 30minutes @28oC, milled into powder and mixed at different ratios for RUTF formulation. FMS1 (30% insect, 25% peanut, 15% vegetable oil, 28% date fruit), FMS2 (25%, 30%, 20%, 23%) and FMS3 (20%, 35%, 25%, 18%) and compared with commercial RUTF (CNS) as control in the Home Economics Department laboratory. Proximate, mineral (Fe, Zn, Ca, I), anti-nutrient (tannin, oxalate, phytate) and sensory properties were evaluated using AOAC standard methods and 9-point hedonic scale with 20 semi-trained panelists (mothers). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Duncan Multiple Range Test at p<0.05 using SPSS v27. Moisture was significantly lower in formulated samples (2.90-4.33%) than CNS (11.39%), meeting WHO <5% requirement for RUTF stability. Protein (14.33-21.68%) and lipid (19.50-22.77%) were significantly higher in formulated samples than CNS (14.10% protein, 11.47% lipid), with FMS1 having highest protein (21.68%). Iron (56.04 mg/100g), zinc (up to 25.93 mg/100g in FMS1) and calcium (up to 137.34 mg/100g in FMS3) were significantly higher than CNS, while iodine was higher in CNS (9.84 mg/100g). Anti-nutrients were low and within safe limits, with FMS2 having lowest oxalate (0.41 mg/100g) and phytate (0.08 mg/100g). CNS was significantly more acceptable (8.67), but among formulated samples, FMS2 had highest overall acceptability (7.47). Insect-based RUTF is nutritionally superior, shelf-stable and generally acceptable. FMS2 presented the most balanced nutritional, anti-nutrient and sensory profile and is recommended as optimal low-cost alternative for community-based SAM management in Zamfara State.

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