On January 13, 2025, USAID’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) received reports that USAID‑branded Ready‑to‑Use Supplementary Food (RUSF) and Ready‑to‑Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) were being sold on a publicly accessible e-commerce platform in Ethiopia. OIG opened an investigation to determine the source of the diversion.
Through a review of online marketplaces operating overseas, OIG identified 25 online listings appearing to offer USAID-branded RUTF sachets (pouches); the total quantity and authenticity of the commodities could not be independently verified. However, approximately half of the pictures posted showed tens or even hundreds of sachets stacked on top of each other and available for sale. Each sachet was sold for approximately $0.43.
During the course of its investigation, OIG conducted multiple interviews with those involved in the Ethiopian RUSF/RUTF supply chain; reviewed relevant reports and documentation; and conducted open‑source searches of producers, suppliers, and online listings. In doing so, the investigation identified indicators of potential vulnerabilities across multiple stages of the supply chain that could allow for diversion. The pharmaceutical manufacturer, several implementers, and USAID reported that they are taking ongoing measures to prevent or reduce food diversion and committed to communicating any future incidents of theft, diversion, and looting to OIG.
Our office continues to investigate fraud, corruption, diversion, and other misconduct impacting U.S.-funded foreign assistance programs and operations across multiple agencies. This includes, as in the above case, allegations of diversion involving U.S.-funded food commodities.
Please report any alleged misuse of U.S. taxpayer dollars impacting American foreign assistance to the OIG Hotline through https://oig.usaid.gov/report-fraud.
For more on OIG’s investigative activities, please visit https://oig.usaid.gov/our-work/investigations.