Income Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended
Jul. 27, 2011	Jul. 28, 2010
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation
Income from continuing operations attributable to H.J. Heinz Company common shareholders, net of tax	$ 226,114	$ 240,427
Allocation to participating securities	360	186
Preferred dividends	3	3
Income from continuing operations applicable to common stock	$ 225,751	$ 240,238
Average common shares outstanding-basic	321,411,000	318,060,000
Effect of dilutive securities:
Convertible preferred stock	101,000	104,000
Stock options, restricted stock and the global stock purchase plan	2,734,000	2,845,000
Average common shares outstanding-diluted	324,246,000	321,009,000
Income Per Common Share (Textuals) [Abstract]
Anti-dilutive stock options	200,000	2,900,000

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Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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Equity impact of aggregate cash, stock, and paid-in-kind dividends declared for preferred shareholders during the period.

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Other preferred stock dividends and adjustments, not otherwise defined in the taxonomy, that are necessary to adjust net income to obtain net income applicable to common stockholders.

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