EXHIBIT 99.1




[HEINZ logo]

FOR RELEASE UPON RECEIPT

                HEINZ EXECUTIVES CERTIFY ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


PITTSBURGH, PA, AUGUST 14, 2002 - H. J. Heinz Company (NYSE:HNZ) has submitted
its certification of financial statements today to the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC). Heinz Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
William R. Johnson and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Art
Winkleblack by certification letter today affirmed Heinz's annual report on Form
10-K for Fiscal 2002, which ended May 1, 2002, and proxy statement, which was
filed on August 2, 2002. This action is in response to the SEC order requiring
CEOs and CFOs of large publicly traded companies to certify that their financial
reports contain neither material misstatements nor material omissions.

         "Heinz is pleased to be filing these certification letters ahead of its
September SEC deadline as a company with a non-calendar fiscal year. We indeed
are proud that Heinz operates with a high level of integrity and will continue
to do so in the future," Mr. Johnson noted.

         The certifications have been posted on the company's web site
(www.heinz.com). The 2002 financial reports filed with the SEC also are
available on the site under the investor relations button.

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ABOUT HEINZ -- H. J. Heinz Company is one of the world's leading processors and
marketers of high-quality ketchup, condiments, sauces, meals, soups, snacks and
infant foods through all retail and foodservice channels. A host of favorite
brands, such as Heinz(R) ketchup, Ore-Ida(R) french fries, Boston Market(R) and
Smart Ones(R) meals and Plasmon(R) baby food are the growth drivers in Heinz's
two strategic global segments: Meal Enhancers and Meals & Snacks. Heinz's 50
companies have number-one or number-two brands in 200 countries, showcased by
the Heinz(R) brand, a global consumer icon with $2.5 billion in annual sales.
Fourteen additional brands, each with more than $100 million in annual sales,
generate a further $2.6 billion. Information on Heinz is available at
www.heinz.com.

/CONTACT: MEDIA: Ted Smyth, SVP-Corp. & Govt. Affairs, 412-456-5780; Debbie
Foster, Director-Corp. Comm., 412-456-5778; or Jack Kennedy, GM-Strategic Comm.,
412-456-5923; INVESTORS: Jack Runkel, VP-Investor Relations, 412-456-6034, all
of Heinz/