News Releases

NEW YORK, December 15, 2006 -- The New York Stock Exchange announced today that it determined that the class A convertible common stock of American Italian Pasta Company (the "Company") – ticker symbol PLB – should be suspended prior to the opening on Wednesday, December 20, 2006, or such earlier date as the Company commences trading in another securities marketplace, or if there is material adverse development.

The decision was reached in view of the fact that the Company is a late filer, and was under review by NYSE Regulation due to the delay in filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission its September 30, 2005 Form 10-K, and certain of its 2005 and 2006 Form 10-Q filings. On December 15, 2006 , the Company announced that it anticipates it will file its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005 by the end of January 2007. This date is beyond the maximum 12-month period otherwise available to complete the filing as permitted under the NYSE’s rules.

The Company has a right to a review of this determination by a Committee of the Board of Directors of the Exchange (the “Committee”). Application to the Securities and Exchange Commission to delist the issue is pending the completion of applicable procedures, including any appeal by the Company of the NYSE staff’s decision. The NYSE noted that it may, at any time, suspend a security if it believes that continued dealings in the security on the NYSE are not advisable.

For further information contact:

Paul Geist, Vice President & Corporate Controller,

American Italian Pasta Company, +1-816-584-5611