FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 26, 2002

DAWN FOOD PRODUCTS, INC., DONATES INGREDIENTS FOR THE

WORLD'S LARGEST HAMANTASCH

In order to help the Shaare Shamayin-Beth Judah synagogue in Philadelphia fulfill a quest to make the world's largest hamantasch, Dawn Food Products, Inc., donated all the necessary ingredients to make the traditional pastry eaten during the Jewish holiday Purim.

Dawn contributed supplies and equipment, including a brand new sheeter, to conform to Kosher guidelines. Mike Goldinger, a Dawn Edison sales representative and resident bakery expert, acted as head baker and hamantasch expert for the event. Over 100 volunteers, including Hebrew students, their parents and area bakers, spent nearly 13 hours making the hamantasch for the holiday, celebrated this year on February 26.

The recipe for the giant pastry called for 96 pounds of sugar, 84 pounds of all purpose flour, 108 pounds of cake flour, four gallons of eggs and water, 60 pounds of margarine and 323 pounds of pie filling, all donated by Dawn. Officially measured by the Department of Licenses and Inspections Weights and Measures Office, the record hamantasch was slightly longer than 20 feet on all three sides and weighed in at seven hundred thirty eight pounds. The certified measurements were submitted to The Guinness Book of World Records.

The group of volunteers led by Goldinger began its work in the synagogue kitchen at 6:30 p.m. Saturday night and finished just in time for the annual Purim carnival Sunday afternoon. The hamantasch was baked in the synagogue's two convection ovens. Baking only seven pans every 15 minutes, a total of 130 pans of cake were needed for the feat. The record hamantasch was assembled on folding tables, surrounded by caution tape to ensure that none of the drowsy volunteers stumbled.

Purim dates back 2,300 years when the evildoer Haman became the Persian Prime Minister. His scheme to annihilate the Jews was thwarted by Queen Esther. The corners of hamantasch, usually baked in daintier portions, signify the three forefathers Abraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov and it is also said to represent the hat that Haman wore. Under a Purim requirement, Jews must give a gift of food. What was left of the world's largest hamantasch after the carnival was donated to the Saligman House, a senior citizens home in the Northeast.

Dawn Food Products, Inc. is one of the world's largest bakery manufacturers and distributors as well as one of the nation's oldest manufacturers of bakery mixes and bases. Since 1920, Dawn's dedicated employees, outstanding products and valued customers have made the Dawn name synonymous with excellence. American-owned and -operated, Dawn currently supplies a complete line of quality, consistent mixes, bases, icings, glazes, fillings, frozen dough, par-baked and fully baked products and equipment to the food industry worldwide.

For further information, please contact Dawn Food Products, Inc. at 2021 Micor Drive, Jackson, MI 49203; phone: (800) 248-1144 or (517) 789-4400; fax: (517) 789-4465; website: www.dawnfoods.com.

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