Don Jackson Elected to Pilgrim's Pride Board of Directors

The vote follows yesterday's announcement of a ruling by the US Bankruptcy Court to allow the hiring of Jackson, a former Tyson executive, as President and CEO.

PITTSBURG, TX., Jan. 28, 2009 -- Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (Pink Sheets: PGPDQ) today announced that Don Jackson, president and chief executive officer, has been elected to the Company's Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Dr. Jackson joined the company on an interim basis last month and his appointment as president and CEO was approved yesterday by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Prior to accepting his position with Pilgrim's Pride, he served as president of Foster Farms' poultry division, a leading poultry producer on the West Coast.

As previously announced, the Company filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions on December 1, 2008. The Chapter 11 cases are being jointly administered under case number 08-45664. The Company's operations in Mexico and certain operations in the United States were not included in the filing and continue to operate as usual outside of the Chapter 11 process.

Additional information about the restructuring is available at the Company's website www.pilgrimspride.com or via the Company's restructuring information line at (888) 830-4659.