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                       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): February 17, 2003


                               H. J. HEINZ COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


      Pennsylvania                     1-3385                 25-0542520
(State of Incorporation)     (Commission File Number)      (I.R.S. Employer
                                                          Identification No.)

     600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh,                            15219
              Pennsylvania                                  (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)


                                  412-456-5700
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                 Not Applicable
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


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ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

H. J. Heinz Company wishes to disclose its press release dated February 17, 2003
furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.

                              INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number
(Referenced to
Item 601 of
Regulation S-K)                   Description of Exhibit
---------------                   ----------------------
99 (furnished but not filed)      H.J. Heinz Company Press Release dated
                                  February 17, 2003

                                   SIGNATURE

     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 thereunto duly authorized.


                                        H.J. HEINZ COMPANY


                                        By  /s/ Arthur Winkleblack
                                           ----------------------------------
                                           Arthur Winkleblack
                                           Executive Vice President and
                                           Chief Financial Officer


Dated: February 20, 2003

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit NO.                         Description
-----------                         -----------
99 (furnished but not filed)        H. J. Heinz Company Press Release dated
                                    February 17, 2003