PITTSBURG, Texas, Aug. 7 /EMWNews/ -- Pilgrim's Pride

Corporation (NYSE: PPC) today issued the following statement from President

and Chief Executive Officer J. Clinton Rivers:



    "We are extremely disappointed by the EPA's announcement that it has

rejected Texas Governor Rick Perry's request for a partial waiver of the

2008 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The RFS has caused feed ingredient

prices to spiral out of control, inflicting extreme economic damage on food

companies, and ultimately, on consumers, in the form of increased food

costs.



    "We expect our company's feed-ingredient costs for fiscal 2008 will

increase $900 million from last fiscal year as a result of the U.S.

government's failed ethanol policy. It's apparent that the government

intends to blindly pursue this misguided and destructive policy despite

reams of data demonstrating its negative impact on the environment, food

prices, and world hunger.



    "Not only are the 2008 mandates destructive, but the scheduled mandate

next year will again increase another 16.7% from corn, consuming an

additional 4.5% or more of the 2009-2010 corn crop than the anticipated 34%

of the crop being consumed this year for ethanol production.



    "While we are disappointed by our government's failure to enact a

responsible and comprehensive energy policy that does not pit food against

fuel, we are grateful to Gov. Perry for his leadership on this issue of

national importance."

    About Pilgrim's Pride



    Pilgrim's Pride Corporation is the largest chicken company in the

United States and Puerto Rico and the second-largest in Mexico. Pilgrim's

Pride employs approximately 53,500 people and operates 36

chicken-processing plants and 12 prepared-foods facilities. Pilgrim's Pride

products are sold to foodservice, retail and frozen entree customers. The

Company's primary distribution is through retailers, foodservice

distributors and restaurants throughout the United States and Puerto Rico

and in the Northern and Central regions of Mexico. For more information,

please visit http://www.pilgrimspride.com.






     Contact:



     Ray Atkinson

     Director of Corporate Communications

     Pilgrim's Pride Corporation

     (903) 434-1811

     [email protected]