EXHIBIT 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To United Industrial Corporation:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements (Nos. 33-57065, 333-110619, 333-85819, 33-53911, 333-19517, 333-59487, 333-30103, 333-120577) on Form S-8 and (No. 333-120402) on Form S-3 of United Industrial Corporation of our reports dated March 16, 2005, with respect to:

•the consolidated balance sheet of United Industrial Corporation as of December 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statement of operations, and cash flows for the year then ended,

•management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, and

•the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004,

which reports appear in the December 31, 2004, annual report on Form 10-K of United Industrial Corporation.

/s/ KPMG LLP

McLean, Virginia

March 16, 2005