This study was an effectiveness trial to compare recovery rates in 1125 children aged 6-60 months with moderate acute receiving a newly recommended ready-to-use food (RUSF) and the more conventional ration of corn-soy blend (CSB). Children received the ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF), Supplementary Plumpy, providing 500 calories per day or a corn-soya blend (CSB) and vegetable oil ration providing 1413 calories per day for sixteen weeks. Children in the CSB group had 15% lower recovery. Recovery rates of children at the end of the 16-wk treatment period trended higher in the RUSF group (73%) than in the CSB group (67%) despite the larger portion size and calories provided by CSB.