MGP Ingredients, the Kansas based company which operates a plant in Pekin, has posted a 17-million dollar loss for the first quarter of fiscal year 2009.

the company recently announced it was suspending protein and starch operations in Pekin and , resulting in the loss of 70 to 80 employees company wide.

WEEK erroniously reported that similar protient and starch operations in Atchison, Kansas would also be discontinued. This is incorrect, and News 25 apologizes for the error.

Company CEO Tim Neukirk, in a statement, said the company planned to focus on areas of financial strength including production of food grade alcohol..

The company, in a statement accompanying it's FEC filing, said it would curtail fuel-grade alcohol production at the Pekin plant because recent prices for fuel-grade alcohol are at or below the cost to produce it.