<PAGE>

                                                             EXHIBIT 99.3

                          NUTRITION [LOGO] MEDICAL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1998

                     NUTRITION MEDICAL, INC. TO TRANSFER RETAIL
                                BUSINESS TO AGRILINK

     MINNEAPOLIS, MARCH 19 - Nutrition Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMED) and
Agrilink Foods, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pro-Fac Cooperative, Inc.
(Nasdaq: PFACP) announced today that they have signed an agreement for
Agrilink to acquire Nutrition Medical's private label adult nutrition formula
business. Under the terms of the agreement, Nutrition Medical will transfer
its retail accounts to Agrilink's largest business unit, Curtis Burns Foods,
and receive royalty payments for two years on sales to these customers.
Nutrition Medical will also receive payment for portions of existing product
and packaging inventories.  The transaction is expected to close by May 1,
1998.

     "This agreement represents the successful culmination of our previously
announced evaluation and restructuring of our business units and provides
benefits to all parties," said William L. Rush, president and chief executive
officer of Nutrition Medical.  "Agrilink's considerable experience in the
adult nutrition supplement industry will provide a seamless transition for
our customers, all of whom will continue to receive the highest levels of
service and product quality. In addition, Agrilink has been an important
manufacturing partner for our critical care formula division and, as part of
the transaction, they have agreed to continue manufacturing certain of our
critical care formulas for another three years.  Finally, the swift
completion of this transaction enables us to refocus our energies and
resources on greater market penetration within our core clinical nutrition
business."

     "We're very pleased to enter into this agreement with Nutrition
Medical," says Curtis Burns president Ben Frega, "and to continue the
expansion of our nutritional drink business.  Aseptic growth is an important
component to our strategic plan and this new business is further evidence of
our commitment to this category."

     Nutrition Medical, Inc., based in Minneapolis, develops and markets a
line of clinical nutrition products for hospitals and other health care
facilities. The Company

                                    (more)

<PAGE>

Nutrition Medical and Agrilink
March 19, 1998
Page Two


focuses primarily on niches within the human nutrition industry that have not
traditionally had access to cost-effective "brand alternatives".

     Agrilink Foods processes and markets a variety of product lines of
regional branded, private label and foodservice products in facilities
throughout the United States.  Pro-Fac Cooperative is an agricultural
marketing cooperative that consists of over 600 members, processes fruits,
vegetables and popcorn through Agrilink.  Curtis Burns is Agrilink's largest
business unit, with plant facilities located in Michigan, New York, Georgia
and Texas.

     Contacts:  NUTRITION MEDICAL, William L. Rush, president and chief
executive officer, (612) 577-3201, or Anwar H. Bhimani, chief financial
officer, (612) 577-3235.  AGRILINK FOODS, Bea Slizewski, vice president
corporate communications, (716) 264-3189.

                                        ###