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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SvxAqXLNQJmPkP0s7WetIVLr1bpusk1PXOA1/YxtvK7KScgXTvSQSOp+lNmRWa0j
 EtQXXm00Bit98Jrd0365Lg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-013752.txt : 20040302
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-013752.hdr.sgml : 20040302
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040302170828
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-013752
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040227
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040302

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEINZ H J CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000046640
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CANNED, FROZEN & PRESERVED FRUIT, VEG & FOOD SPECIALTIES [2030]
		IRS NUMBER:				250542520
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 GRANT ST
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15219
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4124565700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 57
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 57
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15230

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SWANN LYNN C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001253486

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03385
		FILM NUMBER:		04643469

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 57
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15230-0057
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bpi05914_bpi9lcs.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000046640</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEINZ H J CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HNZ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001253486</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SWANN LYNN C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SWANN, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>506 HEGNER WAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEWICKLEY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15143</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.25 Par Value</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-02-27</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>133</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>38.21</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2862</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Deferred stock units acquired as a result of previously elected deferral of cash compensation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 362 shares of deferred stock units acquired as a result of previously elected deferral of cash compensation and 2,500 shares of common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lynn C. Swann</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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