8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT

                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                       SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                       Date of Report (Date of Earliest
                        Event Reported):  May 18, 1999



                     CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
              (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



        
               New Jersey          1-1550          04-1923360
             (State or Other     (Commission      (IRS Employer
             Jurisdiction of     File Number)   Identification No.)
             Incorporation)


             250 East Fifth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202      
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


             Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                (513) 784-8000





                   INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT


  Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 are not applicable and are omitted from this
  report.


  ITEM 5.     OTHER EVENTS.

        The Company is making this filing in order to place the information
  contained herein on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Reference is made to the
  Company s May 18, 1999 News Release relating to expectations for second
  quarter 1999 financial results, attached as Exhibit 7(c)99.1.


  ITEM 7.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND
              EXHIBITS.

        (a)   Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired           
                    
              Not Applicable

        (b)   Pro Forma Financial Information
        
              Not Applicable
              
        (c)   Exhibits

              99.1  News Release of the Company issued May 18, 1999.





                                  SIGNATURES

  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


  Date: May 18, 1999                  CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                      By:   /s/William A. Tsacalis  
                                      ----------------------------------
                                            William A. Tsacalis
                                            Vice President and Controller

EX-99.1

                                                               Exhibit 99.1

                                      CHIQUITA
                           [Logo]     BRANDS
                                      INTERNATIONAL
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------

  NEWS RELEASE

                            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                     CHIQUITA ANNOUNCES EXPECTATIONS FOR
                            SECOND QUARTER RESULTS


  CINCINNATI, OHIO, May 18, 1999   Chiquita Brands International, Inc.
  today announced that it expects second quarter 1999 results will be
  significantly lower than the $53 million ($.66 per share) reported in the
  second quarter of 1998.

  The Company attributed the expected decrease in earnings primarily to
  significantly lower European banana pricing in the second quarter to date
  on higher industry volume.  In the European Union ( EU ), the volume
  increase is due to a disproportionately large second quarter allocation
  of the annual supply of banana import licenses as compared to licenses
  issued in any prior second quarter since inception of the EU banana quota
  regime.  To a lesser extent, the Balkan conflict with respect to Kosovo
  and the continued depressed Russian market have put additional downward
  pressure on pricing in neighboring countries.

  Final results for the second quarter are expected to be reported on or
  about July 21, 1999.

  Chiquita is a leading international marketer, producer and distributor of
  quality fresh fruits and vegetables and processed foods.

                                  * * * * *

  This press release contains certain statements that are  forward-looking
  statements  within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act
  of 1995.  These statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks
  and uncertainties, including product pricing, costs to purchase or grow
  (and availability of) fresh produce and other raw materials, currency
  exchange rate fluctuations, natural disasters and unusual weather
  conditions, operating efficiencies, labor relations, access to capital,
  actions of government bodies and other market and competitive conditions,
  many of which are beyond the control of Chiquita.  Actual results or
  developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed in the
  forward-looking statements.


  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
  Michael B. Sims
  Vice President, Investor Relations
  (513) 784-6366