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                                                                      Year Ended
Form 10-K                   THORN APPLE VALLEY, INC.                May 29, 1998
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT (23)
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement
of Thorn Apple Valley, Inc. and Subsidiaries on Form S-8 of our report dated
July 24, 1998, except for the subsequent events information presented in notes
4, 9, and 15 for which the date is September 10, 1998 on our audits of the
consolidated financial statements and the financial statement schedule of Thorn
Apple Valley, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of May 29, 1998 and May 30, 1997 and for
each of the three years in the period ended May 29, 1998 which report is
included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
Detroit, Michigan
September 10, 1998