Exhibit 10.17

LEAVE OF ABSENCE AGREEMENT

This LEAVE OF ABSENCE AGREEMENT, by and between International Multifoods Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Dan C. Swander (the
"Executive"), is executed as of this 23rd day of December, 2004.

WHEREAS,
Executive has served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since November 13, 2001; and

WHEREAS,
this Agreement sets forth the arrangements with respect to Executive's resignation as an officer of the Company effective February 28, 2004 (the "Effective Date"), and
related matters.

NOW,
THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:



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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand and, pursuant to the authorization from the Compensation and Human Resources Committee of its Board of Directors,
the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed in its name on its behalf as of the day and year first above written.

| |  | INTERNATIONAL MULTIFOODS CORPORATION
| |  | ------------------------------------
| |  | By                                  
| |  | /s/DAN C. SWANDERDan C. Swander     

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EXHIBIT A        RELEASE BY DAN C. SWANDER

Definitions.I intend all words used in this Release to have their plain meanings in ordinary
English. Specific terms that I use in this Release have the following meanings:



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However,My Claimsdoes not include any claims that the law does not allow to be waived; any claims that may arise after the date on which
I sign this Release; any claims for breach of the Agreement; and any rights I have (i) as a result and to the extent of my participation in any benefit plan or plans of the Company (including,
but not limited to, the Pension Equity Plan, the Management Benefit Plan, the 401(k) retirement plan, titled "Employees' Voluntary Investment and Savings Plan", the Supplemental Deferred Compensation
Plan and the health and welfare benefit plans), under the terms and conditions set forth in such plan or plans as of the date of termination of my employment, (ii) under the
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement dated as of November 13, 2001 between the Company and me or the Restricted Stock Award Agreement dated as of November 13, 2001 between
the Company and me, and (iii) under any indemnification to which I am entitled under (A) the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Company, (B) the Bylaws, as
amended, of the Company, (C) under any contract of insurance maintained by the Company, or (D) the Indemnity Agreement dated November 13, 2001 between the Company and me.

Agreement to Release My Claims.I will receive consideration from IMC as set forth in the Agreement
if I sign and do not rescind this Release as provided below. I understand and acknowledge that the consideration is in addition to anything of value that I would be entitled to receive from IMC if I
did not sign this Release or if I rescinded this Release. In exchange for that consideration I give up and release all of My Claims. I will not make any demands or claims against the Company for
compensation or damages relating to My Claims. The consideration that I am receiving is a fair compromise for the release of My Claims.

Additional Agreements and Understandings.Even though IMC will provide consideration for me to settle
and release My Claims, the Company does not admit that it is responsible or legally obligated to me. In fact, the Company denies that it is responsible or legally obligated to me for My Claims, denies
that it engaged in any unlawful or improper conduct toward me, and denies that it treated me unfairly.

Advice to Consult with an Attorney.I understand and acknowledge that I am hereby being advised by
the Company to consult with an attorney prior to signing this Release. My decision whether to sign this Release is my own voluntary decision made with full knowledge that the Company has advised me to
consult with an attorney.

Period to Consider the Release.I understand that I have twenty-one
(21)days from the day that I receive this Release, not counting the day upon which I receive it, to consider whether I wish to sign this Release. If I
sign this Release before the end of the twenty-one-day period, it will be my voluntary decision to do so because I have decided that I do not need any additional time to decide
whether to sign this Release.

My Right to Rescind this Release.I understand that I may rescind this Release at any time within
fifteen (15) days after I sign it, not counting the day upon which I sign it. This Release will not become effective or enforceable unless and until the fifteen-day rescission
period has expired without my rescinding it.

Procedure for Accepting or Rescinding the Release.To accept the terms of this Release, I must
deliver the Release, after I have signed and dated it, to IMC by hand or by mail within the twenty-one-day period that I have to consider this Release. To rescind my
acceptance, I must deliver a

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written,
signed statement that I rescind my acceptance to IMC by hand or by mail within the 15-day rescission period. All deliveries must be made to IMC at the following address:



If
I choose to deliver my acceptance or the rescission of my acceptance by mail, it must be:



Interpretation of the Release.This Release should be interpreted as broadly as possible to achieve
my intention to resolve all of My Claims against the Company. If this Release is held by a court to be inadequate to release a particular claim encompassed within My Claims, this Release will remain
in full force and effect with respect to all the rest of My Claims.

My Representations.I am legally able and entitled to receive the consideration being provided to me
in settlement of My Claims. I have not been involved in any personal bankruptcy or other insolvency proceedings at any time since I began my employment with IMC. No child support orders, garnishment
orders, or other orders requiring that money owed to me by IMC be paid to any other person are now in effect.

I
have read this Release carefully. I understand all of its terms. In signing this Release, I have not relied on any statements or explanations made by the Company except as specifically
set forth in the Agreement. I am voluntarily releasing My Claims against the Company. I intend this Release and the Agreement to be legally binding.

|Dated: |  | Dan C. Swander
|------ |  | --------------

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