EXHIBIT 12.2

SARA LEE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
And Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements

(in millions, except ratios)

 
  Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
 
 
  April 1, 2000
  March 27, 1999(1)
 
Fixed charges and preferred stock dividend requirements:              
Interest expense   $ 175   $ 173  
Interest portion of rental expense     49     50  
   
 
 
Total fixed charges before capitalized interest and preferred stock dividend requirements     224     223  
Capitalized interest     7     5  
Preferred stock dividend requirements(2)     15     15  
   
 
 
Total fixed charges and preferred stock dividend requirements   $ 246   $ 243  
   
 
 
Earnings available for fixed charges and preferred stock dividend requirements:              
Income before income taxes   $ 1,245   $ 1,268  
Less undistributed income in minority-owned companies     (6 )   (4 )
Add minority interest in majority-owned subsidiaries     26     23  
Add amortization of capitalized interest     15     17  
Add fixed charges before capitalized interest and preferred stock dividend requirements     224     223  
   
 
 
Total earnings available for fixed charges and preferred stock dividend requirements   $ 1,504   $ 1,527  
   
 
 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividend requirements     6.1     6.3  
   
 
 

(1)
In the second quarter of fiscal 1999, the Corporation recorded a pretax charge of $76 million in connection with a voluntary recall of certain of its packaged meat products.
(2)
Preferred stock dividends in the above computation have been increased to an amount representing the pretax earnings that would have been required to cover such dividends.

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