Darling International Inc. today reported sales and earnings for its 2005 fiscal second quarter and six months ended July 2, 2005 as compared to the same periods of the prior year.

For the 2005 second quarter, the Company's net sales were $81.3 million as compared to $91.3 million for the 2004 second quarter. Decreases in raw material volumes and finished product prices accounted for the majority of the $10.0 million net sales decrease. For the 2005 second quarter, the Company reported net income of $2.7 million as compared to $4.5 million for the 2004 comparable period. The decrease in net income for the 2005 second quarter resulted primarily from decreases in raw material volumes and finished product prices. The 2004 second quarter included a charge of $1.7 million in other expenses related to the early redemption of preferred stock which was recorded in the comparable period of the prior year.

Darling International Chairman and CEO, Randall Stuewe, noted that "while 2005 second quarter earnings lagged the second quarter of 2004, net income increased $1.8 million to $2.7 million in the second quarter versus $0.9 million net income in the first quarter of 2005, as pricing and product mix improvements accounted for the majority of the change. The impact of lower raw material volumes continued to be the primary reason earnings were lower in the first six months of Fiscal 2005 as compared to 2004."

For the six months ended July 2, 2005, the Company reported net sales of $152.6 million as compared to $168.8 million for the 2004 comparable period. For the six months ended July 2, 2005, the Company reported net income of $3.7 million as compared to $8.4 million for the 2004 comparable period. Decreases in raw material volumes and finished product prices accounted for the majority of the $16.2 million and $4.7 million net sales and net income decreases, respectively.

Darling International will host a conference call to discuss the Company's second quarter 2005 financial results at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (10:00 a.m. Central Time) on Friday, August 12, 2005. To listen to the conference call, participants calling from within North America may dial 800-322-0079; international participants may dial 973-409-9258. Please call approximately fifteen minutes before the start of the call to ensure that you are connected. The call will also be available as a live audio web cast that can be accessed on the company website at http://www.darlingii.com/investors/investors.html or http://www.earnings.com/ . Following its completion, a replay of the call can be accessed until September 9, 2005 by dialing 877-519-4471 or 973-341-3080 outside of North America. The access code for the replay is 6349575. The conference call will also be archived on the company's website for seven days.

Darling International Inc. is the largest publicly traded, food processing by-products recycling company in the United States. The Company recycles used restaurant cooking oil and by-products from the beef, pork and poultry processing industries into useable products such as tallow, feed-grade fats and meat and bone meal. These products are primarily sold to animal feed and oleo-chemical manufacturers around the world. In addition, the Company provides grease trap collection services and sells equipment to restaurants.

For more information, please visit http://www.darlingii.com/ .

{This media release contains forward-looking statements regarding the business operations of Darling and the industry in which it operates. These statements are identified by words such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "intend," "anticipate," "should," "estimate," continue," and other words referring to events to occur in the future. These statements reflect Darling's current view of future events and are based on its assessment of, and are subject to, a variety of risks and uncertainties beyond its control, including business and economic conditions in its existing markets, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Other risks and uncertainties regarding Darling, its business and the industry in which it operates are referenced from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Darling is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.}

                        Darling International Inc.
                      Consolidated Operating Results
           For the Periods Ended July 2, 2005 and July 3, 2004
             (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
                               (Unaudited)

                     Three Months Ended              Six Months Ended
                  July 2,  July 3,  $ Change    July 2,  July 3, $ Change
                   2005     2004    Favorable    2005     2004   Favorable
                                  (Unfavorable)                (Unfavorable)
  Net sales      $81,274   $91,258   $(9,984)  $152,627 $168,798  $(16,171)
  Costs and
   expenses:
    Cost of
     sales and
     operating
     expenses     62,701    67,152     4,451    118,810  125,246     6,436
    Selling,
     general and
     administrative
     expenses      9,347     9,111      (236)    18,047   18,098        51
    Depreciation
     and
     amortization  3,807     3,970       163      7,578    7,742       164
      Total
       costs and
       expenses   75,855    80,233     4,378    144,435  151,086     6,651
  Operating
   income          5,419    11,025    (5,606)     8,192   17,712    (9,520)
  Other income
   (expense):
    Interest
     expense (A)  (1,589)   (1,800)      211     (3,173)  (3,560)      387
    Other, net       475    (1,730)    2,205        675     (335)    1,010
      Total other
       expense    (1,114)   (3,530)    2,416     (2,498)  (3,895)    1,397
  Income from
   continuing
   operations
   before income
   taxes           4,305     7,495    (3,190)     5,694   13,817    (8,123)

  Income taxes    (1,563)   (3,048)    1,485     (2,036)  (5,456)    3,420
  Income from
   continuing
   operations      2,742     4,447    (1,705)     3,658    8,361    (4,703)
  Income from
   discontinued
   operations,
   net of  tax         6        19       (13)        12       40       (28)
  Net income    $  2,748  $  4,466  $ (1,718)  $  3,670  $ 8,401  $ (4,731)
  Basic and
   diluted
   income per
   share:
    Continuing
     operations $   0.04  $   0.07  $  (0.03)  $   0.06  $  0.13  $  (0.07)
    Discontinued
     operations      ---       ---       ---        ---      ---       ---
  Total         $   0.04  $   0.07  $  (0.03)  $   0.06  $  0.13  $  (0.07)

   (A)  Pursuant to SFAS 150, beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2003,
        on a prospective basis, preferred stock  dividends and accretion are
        included in interest expense.  Approximately $0.1 million of
        dividends and accretion are included in interest expense for the
        second quarter and $0.4 million for the six months ended
        July 3, 2004.


   FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
   John O. Muse, Executive Vice President    251 O'Connor Ridge Blvd.,
    of Finance and Administration, or        Suite 300
   Brad Phillips, Treasurer                  Irving, Texas  75038
                                             Phone:  972-717-0300

SOURCE: Darling International Inc.