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106	GINGER PLUM PORK CUTLET

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Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Gary Reckrodt 913-261-2665
Seaboard Farms sets new industry standard with animal welfare audit system
SHAWNEE MISSION, Kan. (June 24, 2003) – Seaboard Farms broke new ground in the area of animal welfare and handling with the announcement today of a process for unannounced third-party animal welfare audits. Seaboard Farms recently reached an agreement with Farm Animal Care Training and Auditing, LLC (FACTA), to conduct the audits. FACTA, an organization led by world-renowned experts in animal handling and welfare, conducts independent, professional, science-based animal care training and auditing services based on individual farm benchmarking by credentialed auditors and educators. The FACTA team includes John McGlone, Ph.D., as chief executive officer and chief scientific officer and Temple Grandin, Ph.D., as a professional animal welfare consultant. Dr. McGlone, a professor at the Pork Industry Institute at Texas Tech University, is recognized as a leader in farm animal behavior, welfare and management research and education. Dr. Grandin, a professor at Colorado State University, is recognized as a leading expert in the humane treatment of animals. She developed an objective scoring system used by companies worldwide to improve animal handling techniques. According to Dr. McGlone the FACTA/Seaboard Farms relationship is a perfect fit. “Seaboard Farms has an extensive internal animal handling and welfare education, auditing and training program. All that was lacking was the scrutiny of ongoing, third-party audits. FACTA will provide that service and more,” says Dr. McGlone. “Our staff of scientists will identify issues where necessary and provide leadership in implementation of the most science-based approach to humane animal handling in the industry today. Seaboard Farms is setting a new industry standard by agreeing to conduct ongoing scientific-based, third-party animal welfare audits.” As part of the program FACTA will perform unannounced audits of Seaboard Farms’ facilities and practices from farm to plant. Additionally, company records will be audited to ensure employee training and education meet high standards . Rod Brenneman, Seaboard Farms president, is enthusiastic about the new relationship. “Animal welfare is an important issue. It has been proven many times that making animals comfortable by eliminating stress and caring for them in a humane manner will increase productivity. It makes good business sense, but even more important, it’s simply the right thing to do,” says Brenneman. “As a result of our new relationship with FACTA and their highly respected team of scientists and experts in the field, our customers, our employees and the public in general can feel confident that Seaboard Farms is committed to treating animals with the utmost care throughout our system.” Seaboard Farms has long held the belief that proper animal handling is a top priority. Humane animal handling is emphasized from day-one of an employee’s tenure with the company. With the addition of FACTA as a partner, it gives the company the opportunity to prove this commitment through the use of the most qualified third-party audits available in the industry today. FACTA, LLC is a privately held company. The company has no equity or controlling interest in pork, beef, dairy or poultry production, processing or food retailing. Its ownership and operations strive to prevent conflicts of interest and perceived conflicts of interest. FACTA, LLC will not provide consultation to the customers that they also provide animal care training and auditing services. To learn more about FACTA, LLC visit their website at www.factallc.com. Seaboard Farms, headquartered in Shawnee Mission, Kan., is a leading producer and processor of fresh pork in the United States, and a top exporter to Japan and Mexico. The company employs more than 4,000 people in Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and Texas, and markets pork products under the PrairieFresh^® Premium Pork brand. In addition to its food safety commitment, Seaboard Farms has been recognized for its aggressive research and proactive environmental standards. For more information, log onto the company Web site at www.seaboardpork.com, or for information on PrairieFresh^® Premium Pork log onto www.prairiefresh.com. ###