Kate Farms Launches High-calorie Peptide Tube Feeding Formula for ALS, Other Conditions

Kate Farms, a company that develops plant-based oral and tube feeding formulas, has launched its Core Essentials Peptide 1.5 nationwide to help those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and others with impaired development get their full nutritional intake.

Each Core Essentials Peptide 1.5 carton provides a 325 mL combination of 500 calories, 24 grams of organic hydrolyzed pea protein and essential amino acids, medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) oil from coconut, and Omega 3 and 6 from organic flax seed oil. The formula’s goal is to heal the gastrointestinal tract for those needing caloric density.

The formula doesn’t contain dairy, soy, gluten, or any of the most common allergens such as milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish and corn. It is made with organic, non-genetically modified (GMO) ingredients, and includes a blend of 29 superfoods rich in antioxidants. It also free of high-fructose corn syrup and is certified OU Kosher.

Kate Farms began in 2011 when Kate Laver was diagnosed with “failure to thrive,” a condition that affects children by keeping them from following a normal development rate, making them constantly underweight for their age.

To save her, her parents developed a plant-based formula in their home blender that left out any of the common allergens without compromising the necessary proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. That was the earliest version of Kate Farms Komplete and the same principle applies to all of their products today.

The peptide-based formula is now covered by Medicare and Medicaid, as well as private health insurance systems in the U.S.

According to Kate Farms, there are about 437,000 people who are getting their nutrition primarily through a tube. Before the national launch of Core Essentials Peptide 1.5, Kate Farms provided physicians and dietitians samples to hand out to patients, with the result that many patients have transitioned over to their peptide formula.

“I have had the opportunity to provide Kate Farms Core Essentials Peptide to my patients and they are showing great improvement in their health, their weight gain, and how much they enjoy it. I am thrilled that the product is now covered by insurance, making it accessible to so many more patients,” Annette Whitney, a pediatric gastroenterologist affiliated with Medical City Children’s Hospital and Children’s Health, said in a press release.

Zachari Breeding, clinical nutrition manager at Kate Farms, said it makes “a world of difference” for enteral patients “when I’m able to offer formulas that provide healthy sources of nutrition that are easily digestible – but that can often be hard to find.”

“As a dietitian, I’m excited to now be able to order nutritional formulas that are covered by insurance,” Breeding added.