<PAGE> 1
                      THE EARTHGRAINS COMPANY

                     1996 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

  (AS AMENDED APRIL 11, 1996, MARCH 21, 1997, AND MAY 30, 1997;
    RESTATED TO REFLECT A 2-FOR-1 STOCK SPLIT ON JULY 28, 1997)


SECTION 1. PURPOSE.

      The purpose of the Plan is to attract, retain, motivate and reward
employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates with
stock-related compensation arrangements.

SECTION 2. MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES.

      (a)   The maximum number of shares of Stock which may be issued
pursuant to Awards under the Plan, and the maximum number of shares for which
ISOs may be granted under the Plan, shall be 2,860,000 shares, subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 11.  For this purpose:

            (i)   The number of shares underlying an Award shall be counted
      against the Plan maximum ("used") at the time of grant; shares
      underlying alternative Awards shall be counted only once.

            (ii)  When an Award is payable in cash and the amount of such
      cash is based on the value of a number of shares of Stock which is
      determinable at the time of grant, that determinable number of shares
      shall be deemed to underlie that Award for purposes of the Plan.  If
      the amount of such cash, including any cash provided pursuant to
      Section 15 below, in effect is calculated by applying a percentage to
      the Fair Market Value of a certain number of shares of Stock, if such
      percentage is determinable at the date of grant, and if such
      determinable percentage in effect exceeds 100%, the Committee shall
      determine at the time of grant the number of shares which is deemed to
      underlie such Award.

            (iii) If the number of shares underlying an Award is not
      determinable at the time of grant, the Committee shall determine at the
      time of grant a number of shares which is deemed to underlie such
      Award; that number may be adjusted after grant as the Committee deems
      appropriate.

            (iv)  Shares which underlie Awards that (in whole or part)
      expire, terminate, are forfeited, or otherwise become non-payable, or
      which are recaptured by the Company in connection with a forfeiture
      event, may be re-used in new grants to the extent of such expiration,
      termination, forfeiture, non-payability, or recapture.

      (b)   Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, the maximum
number of shares underlying Awards that may be granted to any Eligible
Employee during any calendar year shall be 650,000, subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 11.

      (c)   No more than 333,102 shares of Restricted Stock shall be granted
under the Plan (not counting, for this purpose, Restricted Stock issuable
upon exercise of Options or SARs), subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 11.



<PAGE> 2

      (d)   In its discretion, the Company may issue treasury shares or
authorized but previously unissued shares.

SECTION 3. ELIGIBILITY.

      Officers and management employees of the Company, Subsidiaries or
Affiliates shall be eligible to receive Awards under the Plan.  A Director of
the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate shall be eligible only if he or
she also is an officer or employee of the Company, a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, persons employed only by
Affiliates shall not be eligible to receive ISOs.

SECTION 4. GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO AWARDS.

      (a)   Subject to the limitations in the Plan, the Committee may cause
the Company to grant Awards to such Eligible Employees, at such times, of
such types, in such amounts, for such periods, becoming exercisable at such
times, with such features, with such option prices, purchase prices or base
prices, and subject to such other terms, conditions, and restrictions as the
Committee deems appropriate.  Each Award shall be evidenced by a written
Award Agreement between the Company and the Recipient.  In granting an Award,
the Committee may take into account any factor it deems appropriate and
consistent with the purpose of the Plan.

      (b)   Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, one or more Awards may
be granted separately or as alternatives to each other.  If Awards are
alternatives to each other:

            (i)   the exercise of all or part of one automatically shall
      cause an immediate equal and corresponding termination of the other;
      and

            (ii)  unless the Award Agreement or the Committee expressly
      permit otherwise, alternative Awards which are transferable may be
      transferred only as a unit, and alternative Awards which are
      exercisable must be exercisable by the same person or persons.

      (c)   All or any portion of any payment to a Recipient, whether in cash
or shares of Stock, may be deferred to a later date if and as provided in the
Award Agreement.  Deferrals may be for such periods and upon such terms and
conditions (including the provision of interest, dividend equivalents, or
other return on such amounts) as the Committee may determine.  The Committee
may structure Award Agreements so that the imposition of income and other
taxes on Recipients is deferred in whole or part.

      (d)   Award Agreements may contain any provision approved by the
Committee relating to the period for exercise or vesting after termination of
employment.  Except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in the Award
Agreement, termination of employment includes separation from the group of
companies comprised of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates for
any reason, including death, Disability, retirement, resignation, dismissal,
disposition of a Subsidiary or operation (whether by stock or asset sale or
otherwise), disposition of an interest in an Affiliate, spin-off, shutdown,
or any other event.

      (e)   Award Agreements may, in the discretion of the Committee, contain
a provision permitting a Recipient to designate the person who may exercise
or receive an Award upon the Recipient's death, either by will or by
appropriate notice to the Company.


                                    - 2 -
<PAGE> 3

      (f)   A Recipient shall have none of the rights of a shareholder with
respect to shares of Stock covered by his or her Award until shares are
issued in his or her name.

      (g)   The Committee may provide in Award Agreements that Awards, except
for ISOs and SARs which are alternatives to ISOs, are transferable.
Transferability may be subject to such conditions and limitations as the
Committee deems appropriate.  Except to the extent otherwise expressly set
forth in the Award Agreement, Awards shall not be transferable other than by
will or the laws of descent and distribution, and (if exercise is required)
shall be exercisable during the Recipient's lifetime only by the Recipient or
his or her guardian or legal representative.  This paragraph shall not apply
to Restricted Stock after it vests.

SECTION 5. OPTIONS AND SARs.

      (a)   Except as provided in Section 11(b), the option price per share
of Options or the base price of SARs shall not be less than Fair Market Value
per share of Stock on the Options' or the SARs' grant date, nor less than the
par value of a share of Stock, except that SARs which are alternatives to
Options but which are granted at a later time may have a base price equal to
the option price even though the base price is less than Fair Market Value on
the date the SARs are granted.

      (b)   The grant of Options and their related Option Agreement must
clearly identify the Options as either ISOs or as NQSOs.

      (c)   If Options, SARs, and/or Limited Rights are granted as
alternatives to each other:  (i) the option prices and the base prices (as
applicable) shall be equal, (ii) SARs and/or Limited Rights which are
alternatives to ISOs may be granted only at the same time the ISOs are
granted, and (iii) SARs which are alternatives to Options, and Limited Rights
which are alternatives to Options or SARs, shall expire or terminate at the
same time as the Options or SARs to which they are alternatives.

      (d)   In the case of SARs, the Award Agreement may specify the form of
payment or may provide that the form is to be determined at a later date, and
may require the satisfaction of any rules or conditions in connection with
receiving payment in any particular form.  If the Recipient is a Reporting
Person at the time of grant or during the SARs' term and is given an election
to receive cash in full or partial settlement of SARs, the Committee shall
have sole discretion to approve or disapprove such election at any time after
it is made.

      (e)   Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, no Options or
SARs shall contain a so-called "reload" feature under which Options or SARs
are automatically granted to Recipients upon exercise of Options or SARs.

SECTION 6. LIMITED RIGHTS.

      (a)   The Committee shall have authority to grant limited stock
appreciation rights ("Limited Rights") to any Recipient of any Options or
SARs granted under the Plan (the "Related Award") with respect to all or some
of the shares of Stock which underlie such Related Award.  Limited Rights
shall not be granted separately, but shall be granted only as alternatives to
their Related Award.  Limited Rights may be granted either at the time of
grant of the Related Award or (except in the case of ISOs) at any time
thereafter during its term.  Limited Rights shall be exercisable or payable
at such times, payable in such amounts, and subject to such other terms,
conditions, and restrictions as the Committee deems appropriate.


                                    - 3 -
<PAGE> 4

      (b)   The Committee shall place on any Limited Rights granted to a
Reporting Person such restrictions as may be required by Rule 16b-3 at the
time of grant, and shall amend the Plan accordingly to the extent required by
Rule 16b-3.  The Committee shall place on any Limited Rights for which the
Related Award is ISOs such restrictions as may be required by the Code at the
time of grant, and shall amend the Plan accordingly to the extent required by
the Code.

SECTION 7. RESTRICTED STOCK.

      (a)   "Restricted Stock" means Stock issued to a Recipient which is
subject to transfer restrictions prior to vesting and is subject to
forfeiture upon the happening of such events or such conditions or upon the
failure to satisfy such rules, requirements and conditions as the Committee
specifies in the Award Agreement.  Stock issued in connection with an Award
Agreement is not Restricted Stock unless so designated in the Award Agreement
or in a rule or resolution of the Committee.  When Restricted Stock vests, it
ceases to be Restricted Stock for purposes of the Plan.

      (b)   The certificate representing the shares of Restricted Stock
issued in the name of the Recipient may be held by the Company and/or may
have a legend placed upon it to the effect that the shares represented by it
are subject to, and may not be transferred except in accordance with the Plan
and the Award Agreement relating to such shares.  Dividends relating to
shares of Restricted Stock may be paid to the Recipient or held by the
Company for the Recipient's benefit, as the Committee may provide in the
Award Agreement; if held by the Company, the Committee may require that the
Company pay interest or other return to the Recipient on any cash dividends
at such rate(s) and time(s) as the Committee provides in the Award Agreement.

      (c)   If the Recipient of Restricted Stock is a Reporting Person on
the grant date, at least one of the following requirements shall be
satisfied:

            (i)   the Award is a stock bonus granted for no consideration
      (other than services rendered or to be rendered);

            (ii)  the Award is a stock bonus granted for the minimum amount
      of consideration (other then services) required by applicable corporate
      law, which amount in no event exceeds 10% of the Fair Market Value of a
      share of Stock on the payment date, and which amount is paid to the
      Company within 60 days after the grant date:

            (iii) the Award consists of Options which are payable in
      Restricted Stock; or

            (iv)  the Award is an Other Stock Interest which is payable in
      Restricted Stock and which either is granted in conformity with (i) or
      (ii) above, or constitutes an option or similar right (including a
      stock appreciation right) or any other type of derivative security for
      the purposes of Rule 16b-3.

This paragraph (c) shall apply to a grant only when required by Rule 16b-3 at
the time and under the circumstances of the grant.

SECTION 8. OTHER STOCK INTERESTS.

      "Other Stock Interest" means any compensatory arrangement not
inconsistent with the Plan which is established by the Committee and which
might (a) involve the issuance of Stock to an Eligible Employee or (b)
involve or be treated as involving the acquisition or disposition of an
equity security of the Company for purposes of Section 16 of the Act.  Other
Stock Interests are


                                    - 4 -
<PAGE> 5

not limited to any specific form or structure.  Without limiting the above,
Other Stock Interests may include stock bonuses, deferred stock, variable
priced stock options, performance shares, phantom stock, and convertible
securities, and may be granted in connection with or apart from other
compensation programs or plans or other types of Awards under the Plan.  In
connection with the grant of Other Stock Interests, the Committee may provide
for payment to the Recipient of amounts equal to dividends which would have
been paid had Stock actually been issued to the Recipient.  In addition,
Other Stock Interests may provide for payment of cash or other property in
lieu of Stock or other securities of the Company.  The Committee shall place
on any Other Stock Interest granted to a Reporting Person such restrictions
as may be required by Rule 16b-3 at the time of grant, and shall amend the
Plan accordingly to the extent required by Rule 16b-3.

SECTION 9. STOCK ISSUANCE, PAYMENT, AND WITHHOLDING.

      (a)   If an Award contemplates the payment of a purchase price
(including the option price of Options), the Recipient may pay the purchase
price in cash, Stock (including shares of previously-owned Stock, or Stock
issuable in connection with the Award), or other property, to the extent
permitted or required by the Award Agreement or the Committee from time to
time.  The Committee may permit deemed or constructive transfers of shares in
lieu of actual transfer and physical delivery of certificates.  Except to the
extent prohibited by applicable law, the Committee or its delegate may take
any necessary or appropriate steps in order to facilitate the payment of any
such purchase price.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee may allow
the Recipient to defer payment of such purchase price, or may cause the
Company to loan the purchase price to the Recipient or to guaranty that any
shares to be issued will be delivered to a broker or lender in order to allow
the Recipient to borrow the purchase price.  The Committee may require
satisfaction of any rules or conditions in connection with paying the
purchase price at any particular time, in any particular form, or with the
Company's assistance.

      (b)   If shares used to pay any such purchase price are subject to any
prior restrictions imposed in connection with any plan of the Company
(including the Plan), an equal number of the shares of Stock purchased shall
be made subject to such prior restrictions in addition to any further
restrictions imposed on such purchased shares by the terms of the Award
Agreement or Plan.

      (c)   When the obligation arises to collect and pay Required
Withholding Taxes, the Recipient shall promptly reimburse the Company or
Employer (as required by the Committee or Company) for the amount of such
Required Withholding Taxes in cash, unless the Award Agreement or the
Committee permits or requires payment in another form.  In the discretion of
the Committee or its delegate and at the Recipient's request, the Committee
or its delegate may cause the Company or Employer to pay to the appropriate
taxing authority Withholding Taxes in excess of Required Withholding Taxes on
behalf of a Recipient, which shall be reimbursed by the Recipient.  In the
Award Agreement or otherwise, the Committee may allow a Recipient to
reimburse the Company or Employer for payment of Withholding Taxes with
shares of Stock or other property.  The Committee may require the
satisfaction of any rules or conditions in connection with any non-cash
payment of Withholding Taxes.  If a Recipient is a Reporting Person at the
time of grant or during the Award's term and is given an election to pay any
Withholding Taxes with Stock, the Committee shall have sole discretion to
approve or disapprove such election at any time after the election is made.


                                    - 5 -
<PAGE> 6

      (d)   If provided in the Award Agreement relating to an ISO, the
Committee may prohibit the transfer by a Recipient of shares of Stock issued
to him or her upon exercise of an ISO into the name of a nominee, and the
Committee may require the placement of a legend on certificates for such
shares reflecting such prohibition.

SECTION 10.     FORFEITURES.

      (a)   The Committee may include in any Award Agreement any provisions
relating to forfeitures of Awards that it deems appropriate.  Such forfeiture
provisions may include, among others, prohibitions on competing with the
Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates and other detrimental conduct.
Forfeiture provisions for one Award type may differ from those for another
type, and also may differ among Awards of the same type.  As used in the
Plan, a "forfeiture" of an Award includes the recapture of economic benefits
derived from an Award, as well as the forfeiture of an Award itself; however,
the Committee may define the term more narrowly in specific Award Agreements
or contexts.

      (b)   Award Agreements may provide for any forfeiture provision to
terminate or be waived upon an Acceleration Date.  In its discretion, the
Committee may provide in any Award Agreement for the termination of any
forfeiture provision upon the happening of any specified event, and may
terminate or waive any forfeiture provision by action taken after grant.

SECTION 11.     ADJUSTMENTS AND ACQUISITIONS.

      (a)   In the event of (i) any change in the outstanding shares of Stock
by reason of any stock split, combination of shares, stock dividend,
reorganization, merger, consolidation, or other corporate change having a
similar effect, (ii) any separation of the Company including a spin-off or
other distribution of stock or property by the Company, or (iii) any
distribution to shareholders generally other than a normal dividend, the
Committee shall make such equitable adjustments to the Plan and to
outstanding Awards as it shall deem appropriate in order to prevent the
dilution or enlargement of (A) the Awards which may be granted, the shares of
Stock which may be issued, or the shares for which ISOs may be granted under
the Plan, (B) the economic value of outstanding Awards or (C) the limitations
imposed by Section 2(b) of the Plan, provided, however, that the Committee
shall not make any adjustment which would constitute or result in an increase
in the aggregate number of Shares available under the Plan, or the annual
limit on the number of Awards which may be granted to an Eligible Employee
under Section 2(b) of the Plan, requiring shareholder approval under Section
422 or Section 162(m) of the Code.  Any such determination by the Committee
shall be conclusive and binding on all concerned.

      (b)   In the event the Company or a Subsidiary enters into a
transaction described in Section 424(a) of the Code with any other
corporation, the Committee may grant Options, SARs or Limited Rights to
employees or former employees of such corporation in substitution of stock
awards, stock appreciation rights or limited stock appreciation rights
(respectively) previously granted to them by such corporation upon such terms
and conditions as shall be necessary to qualify such grant as a substitution
described in Section 424(a) of the Code.

SECTION 12.     ACCELERATION.

      (a)   An "Acceleration Date" occurs when any of the following events
occur:


                                    - 6 -
<PAGE> 7

            (i)   any Person (as defined herein) becomes the beneficial owner
      directly or indirectly (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Act)
      of more than 30% of the Company's then outstanding voting securities
      (measured on the basis of voting power), provided, however, that shares
      issued or distributed by the Company in connection with the acquisition
      of another company or business from such Person shall be counted as
      being outstanding, but otherwise shall be ignored in determining the
      percentage beneficially owned by such Person;

            (ii)  the shareholders of the Company approve a definitive
      agreement of merger or consolidation with any other corporation or
      business entity, other than (x) a merger or consolidation which would
      result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately
      prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding
      or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity),
      in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary
      holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, at
      least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the
      Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such
      merger or consolidation, or (y) a merger or consolidation effected to
      implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in
      which no Person acquires more than 50% of the combined voting power of
      the Company's then outstanding securities;

            (iii) a change occurs in the composition of the Board of
      Directors during any period of twenty-four consecutive months such that
      individuals who at the beginning of such period were members of the
      Board of Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a
      majority thereof, unless the election, or the nomination for election
      by the Company's shareholders, of each new director was approved by a
      vote of at least two-thirds of the directors still in office who either
      were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or
      nomination for election was previously so approved; or

            (iv)  the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
      liquidation or dissolution of the Company or an agreement for the sale
      or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all the Company's
      assets.

For purposes of this paragraph, "Person" shall have the meaning given in
Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d)
and 14(d) thereof; however, a Person shall not include (aa) the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, (bb) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities
under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
(cc) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of
such securities, or (dd) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the
shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of Stock.

      (b)   If an Acceleration Date occurs while Awards remain outstanding
under the Plan, then all Awards shall "vest," which means:

            (i)   all Options and SARs shall become fully exercisable; and

            (ii)  all shares of Restricted Stock shall become nonforfeitable
      and freely transferable (except for such restrictions as may be imposed
      by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or applicable state
      securities laws), and all conditions to unrestricted


                                    - 7 -
<PAGE> 8

      ownership provided in their Award Agreements which have not previously
      been satisfied shall lapse.

In the case of Other Stock Interests, the term "vest" shall have that meaning
given it by the Committee at the time of grant.

      (c)   Except to the extent prohibited by Rule 16b-3 in the case of
Reporting Persons, the Committee may accelerate the date on which any Award
or Stock or property issued pursuant to an Award shall vest and may remove
any restrictions on such Award at any time after grant and for any reason the
Committee deems appropriate.

      (d)   All Awards, and all shares of Stock or property issued pursuant
to an Award, shall automatically vest upon a termination of employment caused
by the death, Disability, or (except for Restricted Stock and Other Stock
Interests) retirement of the Recipient.  The Committee may determine the
circumstances under which a Recipient is deemed to have retired.

SECTION 13.     ADMINISTRATION.

      (a)   The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation and Human
Resources Committee of the Board, or another committee appointed by the Board
from time to time, consisting of three or more persons, each of whom at all
times shall be a member of the Board and none of whom shall be an officer or
employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries at the time of service.
Committee members shall not be eligible for selection to receive Awards under
the Plan.

      (b)   During any time when one or more Committee members may not be
qualified to serve under Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m) of the Code, the
Committee may form a sub-Committee from among its qualifying members to act,
in lieu of the full Committee, with respect to all or any specified category
of Awards granted to all or any specified group of Recipients, and may take
other actions deemed appropriate and convenient to prevent, control,
minimize, or eliminate any adverse effects of such potential
disqualification.  At the Committee's request or on its own motion, the Board
may ratify or approve grants, or any terms of any grants, made by the
Committee or a sub-Committee during any time that any member of the Committee
may not be qualified to approve such grants or terms under Rule 16b-3.

      (c)   A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a
quorum.  The acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at
which a quorum is present, or acts approved in writing by a majority of the
members of the Committee, shall be the acts of the Committee.  The Committee
may meet in person, by telephone or television conference, or in any other
manner permitted by applicable law.  From time to time the Committee may
adopt, amend, and rescind such rules and regulations for carrying out the
Plan and implementing Award Agreements, and the Committee may take such
action in the administration of the Plan, as it deems proper.  The
interpretation of any provisions of the Plan by the Committee shall be final
and conclusive unless otherwise determined by the Board.

SECTION 14.     AMENDMENT, TERMINATION, SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL.

      (a)   The Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any time, except
that without the approval of the Company's shareholders, no amendment shall
(i) increase the maximum number of shares issuable, or the maximum number of
shares for which ISOs may be granted, under the Plan, (ii) change the class
of persons eligible to be Recipients, (iii) change the annual limit on Awards
which may be granted to an Eligible Employee provided in Section 2(b), (iv)
withdraw


                                    - 8 -
<PAGE> 9

the authority of the Committee to administer the Plan, or (v) change the
provisions of this Section 14(a).

      (b)   The Committee may amend the Plan from time to time to the extent
necessary to (i) comply with Rule 16b-3 and, to the extent it deems
appropriate, (ii) prevent benefits under the Plan from constituting
"applicable employee remuneration" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of
the Code.

      (c)   No Awards may be granted under the Plan after February 21, 2006.

      (d)   The approval by shareholders described in this Section shall
consist of the approving vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of Stock present (in person or by proxy) at a meeting of the
shareholders at which a quorum is present, unless a greater vote is required
by the Company's charter or by-laws, by the Board, by the Company's principal
stock exchange, or by applicable law (including Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m)
of the Code).

SECTION 15.     ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS.

      The Committee may grant a Recipient the right to receive additional
compensation in cash or other property (in addition to any cash or other
property payable under the terms of the Award itself) upon the exercise of
Options, SARs, or exercisable Other Stock Interests, or the vesting of
Restricted Stock or non-exercisable Other Stock Interests, provided that (i)
in the case of ISOs such compensation is includible in income under Sections
61 and 83 of the Code at the time of such exercise or vesting and (ii) no
such right may be granted in connection with any SARs or Limited Rights which
are alternatives to ISOs.

SECTION 16.     DEFINITIONS.

      (a)   "Acceleration Date" has the meaning given in Section 12(a).

      (b)   "Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from
time to time.

      (c)   "Affiliate" means any entity in which the Company has a
substantial direct or indirect equity interest (other than a Subsidiary), as
determined by the Committee.

      (d)   "Award" means a grant of ISOs, NQSOs, SARs, Limited Rights,
Restricted Stock or Other Stock Interests.

      (e)   "Award Agreement" means the written agreement referred to in
Section 4(a) between the Company and the Recipient evidencing an Award.

      (f)   "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

      (g)   Options "cease to qualify as ISOs" when they fail or cease to
qualify for the exclusion from income provided in Section 421 (or any
successor provision) of the Code.

      (h)   "Code" means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code as in effect from
time to time.

      (i)   "Committee" means the Compensation and Human Resources Committee
described in Section 13 hereof.

      (j)   "Company" means The Earthgrains Company and its successors.

      (k)   "Disability" means the condition of being "disabled" within the
meaning of Section 422(c)(6) of the Code or any successor provision.


                                    - 9 -
<PAGE> 10

      (l)   "Eligible Employee" means a person who is eligible to receive an
Award under Section 3 of the Plan.

      (m)   "Employer" means the Company, the Subsidiary, or the Affiliate
which employs the Recipient.

      (n)   "Fair Market Value" of Stock on a given date means (i) the
average of the highest and lowest selling prices per share of Stock reported
on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape or similar quotation service
for such date, (ii) if Stock is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange,
the average of the highest and lowest selling prices per share of Stock as
reported for such date on the principal stock exchange or quotation system in
the U.S. on which Stock is listed or quoted (as determined by the Committee),
or (iii) if neither of the preceding clauses is applicable, the value per
share determined by the Committee in a manner consistent with the Treasury
Regulations under Section 2031 of the Internal Revenue Code.  If no sale of
Stock occurs on such date, but there were sales reported within a reasonable
period both before and after such date, the weighted average of the means
between the highest and lowest selling prices on the nearest date before and
the nearest date after such date shall be used, with the average to be
weighted inversely by the respective numbers of trading days between the
selling dates and such date.  "Fair Market Value" of Restricted Stock is the
same as the Fair Market Value of any other Stock.

      (o)   "Forfeiture" has the meaning given in Section 10(a).

      (p)   "ISO" or "Incentive Stock Option" means an option to purchase one
share of Stock for a specified option price which is designated by the
Committee as an "Incentive Stock Option" and which qualifies as an "incentive
stock option" under Section 422 (or any successor provision) of the Code.

      (q)   "Limited Right" has the meaning given in Section 6.

      (r)   "NQSO" or "Non-Qualified Stock Option" means an option to
purchase one share of Stock for a specified option price which is designated
by the Committee as a "Non-Qualified Stock Option," or which is designated by
the Committee as an ISO but which ceases to qualify as an ISO.

      (s)   "Option" means an ISO or an NQSO.

      (t)   "Option Agreement" means an Award Agreement which evidences a
grant of Options.

      (u)   "Optionee" means a person to whom Options are granted pursuant to
the Plan.

      (v)   "Other Stock Interest" has the meaning given in Section 8.

      (w)   "Plan" means The Earthgrains Company 1996 Stock Incentive Plan,
as amended from time to time.

      (x)   "Recipient" means an Eligible Employee to whom an Award is
granted pursuant to the Plan.

      (y)   "Reporting Person," as of a given date, means a Recipient who
would be required to report a purchase or sale of Stock occurring on such
date to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 16(a) of
the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

      (z)   "Restricted Stock" has the meaning given in Section 7.


                                    - 10 -
<PAGE> 11

      (aa)  "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 (as amended from time to time)
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Act, and any
successor thereto.

      (bb)  "SAR" means a stock appreciation right, which is a right to
receive cash, Stock, or other property having a value on the date the SAR is
exercised equal to (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of
Stock on the exercise date over (ii) the base price of the SAR.  The term
"SAR" does not include a Limited Right.

      (cc)  "Stock" means shares of the common stock of the Company, par
value $0.01 per share, or such other class or kind of shares or other
securities as may be applicable under Section 11.  The term "Stock" shall
include shares of Restricted Stock unless expressly provided otherwise in the
Plan or an Award Agreement.

      (dd)  "Subsidiary" means a "subsidiary corporation" of the Company as
defined in Section 424(f) (or any successor provision) of the Code.

      (ee)  "Vest" has the meaning given in Section 12(b).

      (ff)  "Withholding Taxes" means, in connection with an Award, (i) the
total amount of Federal and state income taxes, social security taxes, and
other taxes which the Employer of the Recipient is required to withhold
("Required Withholding Taxes") plus (ii) any other such taxes which the
Employer, in its sole discretion, withholds at the request of the Recipient.

SECTION 17.     MISCELLANEOUS.

      (a)   Each provision of the Plan and Option Agreement relating to ISOs
shall be construed so that all ISOs shall be "incentive stock options" as
defined in Section 422 of the Code or any statutory provision that may
replace Section 422, and any provisions thereof which cannot be so construed
shall be disregarded.  Except as provided in Section 10, no discretion
granted or allowed to the Committee under the Plan shall apply to ISOs after
their grant except to the extent the related Option Agreement shall so
provide.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing shall prohibit an amendment
to or action regarding outstanding ISOs which would cause them to cease to
qualify as ISOs, so long as the Company and the Optionee shall consent to
such amendment or action.

      (b)   Without amending the Plan, Awards may be granted to Eligible
Employees who are foreign nationals or who are employed outside the United
States or both, on such terms and conditions different from those specified
in the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Committee, be necessary or
desirable to further the purposes of the Plan.  Such different terms and
conditions may be reflected in Addenda to the Plan.  However, in the case of
ISOs, no such different terms or conditions shall be employed if such term or
condition constitutes, or in effect results in, an increase in the aggregate
number of shares which may be issued under the Plan or a change in the
definition of Eligible Employee.

      (c)   Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan, the Committee
shall not act with respect to any Reporting Person in a manner which would
contravene any requirement of Rule 16b-3 as in effect at the time of such
action, without the knowing consent of such Reporting Person.

      (d)   Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall confer on any
person or expectation to continue in the employ of his or her Employer, or
shall interfere in any manner with the absolute right of the Employer to
change or terminate such person's employment at any time for any reason or
for no reason.



                                    - 11 -