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                                                                   Exhibit 99.1

UNIVERSAL FOODS CORPORATION

NEWS RELEASE                                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                    Contact:      Steve Cordier
                                                                 (414) 347-3868

                  UNIVERSAL FOODS ANNOUNCES 2-FOR-1 STOCK SPLIT
                     AND DECLARES REGULAR QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

         MILWAUKEE (April 9, 1998) --- Universal Foods Corporation (NYSE: UFC)
announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a 2-for-1 stock split
in the form of a 100% stock dividend. The new shares will be distributed on May
22, 1998 to shareholders of record on May 6, 1998. Fractional shares will be
paid out in cash.

         Universal Foods' Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Kenneth P. Manning stated, "We are pleased with our continuing progress at
Universal Foods. The Company's stock has appreciated significantly over the past
eighteen months as strong performances in our operating businesses have been
aided by our strategic acquisition program. This stock split reflects
management's confidence in the future of the Company and keeps our stock
accessible to a wide range of investors."

         Universal Foods also declared its regular quarterly dividend of $.265
per share on a pre-split basis. The dividend is payable on June 1, 1998 to
shareholders of record on May 6, 1998.

         Universal Foods is an industrial marketer of high-performance
ingredients and ingredient systems that add functionality to foods and other
applications, giving distinction to customers' products worldwide. The company's
technical expertise includes flavors, flavor enhancers and other bioproducts,
colors, yeast and dehydrated vegetables.

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                433 East Michigan Street Milwaukee, WI 53202-5106






