<PAGE>
MARATHON FUND LIMITED PARTNERSHIP IV
5250 Wells Fargo Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
December 21, 2000
Protein Acquisition Corp.
245 Park Avenue
41st Floor
New York, New York 10167
Ladies and Gentlemen:
M-Foods Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Holdings"), and Protein
--------
Acquisition Corp., a Minnesota corporation ("Merger Sub"), have been organized
----------
at the direction of affiliates of Vestar Capital Partners IV, L.P. ("Vestar")
-------
for the purpose of effecting the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and
Plan of Merger dated as of the date hereof, among Michael Foods, Inc., a
Minnesota corporation (the "Company"), Holdings and Merger Sub, including the
-------
Exhibits and the Schedules thereto (the "Merger Agreement"). The undersigned,
----------------
Marathon Fund Limited Partnership IV ("MFIV"), has participated with Vestar in
----
this process. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined have the meanings
set forth in the Merger Agreement.
In order to enable Holdings and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, MFIV is pleased to
commit to provide or cause an affiliate to provide to Holdings $35,000,000 of
common equity. Such commitment is subject to (i) MFIV determining in its good
faith judgment that all conditions to the obligations of Holdings and Merger Sub
pursuant to the Merger Agreement and all conditions in the Bank Commitment
Letters have been satisfied or have been waived by all
<PAGE>
parties for whose benefit such conditions exist and (ii) the concurrent
consummation of the Merger. No person or entity other than Holdings may rely on
this commitment.
Upon receipt of any such equity contribution, Holdings shall contribute
such amounts to Merger Sub.
Very truly yours,
MARATHON FUND LIMITED PARTNERSHIP IV
By: MILTIADES, LLC
Its: Sole General Partner
By: /s/ John L. Morrison
-------------------------------
Its: Authorized Member
Agreed and accepted as of
the date first written above:
M-FOODS HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ James P. Kelley
-----------------------------------
Name: James P. Kelley
Title: President
PROTEIN ACQUISITION CORP.
By: /s/ James P. Kelley
-----------------------------------
Name: James P. Kelley
Title: President
2
