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6 <br /> PROOF of Story "g8770" Rec ~ted by INFO STATSON (\SF $LSRV) an 5/20/97 13:44:4 <br /> ~t. Petersburg Times <br /> Publication Date' 12/11/96`' <br /> Page: GE <br /> HD: Stiruggling Food Technology"s chief executive tc step down <br /> 8Y : HELEN I?UNTLEY <br /> DL: PLANT CITY <br /> Health prcblems have forced founder Sam Whitney to step <br /> down as chairman and chief executive of Food Technology Service <br /> inc. just when things are locking up for the struggling Plant City <br /> company. <br /> Food Technology has had a tough time finding a market for its <br /> food irradiation process, which kills bacteria that cause food to <br /> spoil. <br /> ~ St also has met delays in trying to get U.S. Food and Drug <br /> Administration approval for the foam trays it wants to use to <br /> package poultry sold in grocery stores. Whitn ~i~~~~~opes <br /> a royal will come in the new year. ~ V <br /> Currently, Food Technology is processin~pou try for hospitals <br /> and fast-food restaurants. It also expects o process strawberries <br /> and winter vegetables for northern markets; ~Ph'i~_~p,~~`~,i~dlVL,a~st-, <br /> <br /> _/L. W. "Pete"" Ellis, a former executive ;kith the agricultural giant <br /> ConAgra lnc., took over as CEO this week. Gordon Shirah, another <br /> of Food Technology"s founders, became chairman. <br /> Whitney, 73, said he plans to stay on as a director and will continue <br /> working part time at the company. He said he has not fully <br /> recovered from vascular surgery he had last year and is unable to <br /> travel to the company"s irradiation plant fn Mulberry. He said he <br /> a d the company"s board last April to find a necv chief exec 've. <br /> Stock in Food Technology, formerly known as Vindicator Inc., <br /> sold for as much as $13.50 a share in 1992, but lately has been <br /> trading for around $1 a share ir. the Nasdaq small-cap market. <br /> SC: BUSYNESS <br /> E <br /> AT: business finish health J <br /> ED: 0 SOUTH PINELLAS <br /> <br />