POWER OF ATTORNEY

By this Power of Attorney given this 7th day of July, 2003, Lynn C. Swann, an
individual residing at Merriman Road, Sewickley, PA 15143, authorizes Laura
Stein, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of H. J. Heinz Company,
Theodore N. Bobby, Vice President - Legal Affairs of H. J. Heinz Company and
Patrick J. Guinee, Esquire, Corporate Counsel of H. J. Heinz Company, a
Pennsylvania corporation with offices located at 600 Grant Street, 60th Floor US
Steel Building, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (collectively, the "Attorneys," and
each, individual by, the "Attorney"), to perform the following on my behalf:

         To prepare, execute, and file on my behalf all Forms 3, 4, and 5
         necessary or appropriate to comply with Section 16 of the Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") and the rules and regulations
         promulgated pursuant to the Act.

This Power of Attorney is valid until revoked by me.


                                                WITNESS:

/s/ Lynn C. Swann                               /s/ Mary E. Trapolsi
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Lynn C. Swann                                   Mary E. Trapolsi