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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 M9Lr/BU4feXXOn+rqmvHrM7Ho5mK/JSUzw61PPIBYe4/lGnZbjGagRa8FNsUJ+2b
 fP6HIAmZo+e19hJxn1c5uQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-013756.txt : 20040302
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-013756.hdr.sgml : 20040302
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040302171106
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-013756
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:			USHER THOMAS J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001196966

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03385
		FILM NUMBER:		04643497

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		UNITED STATES STEEL CORP 61ST FLR
		STREET 2:		600 GRANT ST
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15219
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bpi05914_bpi10tju.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>0001196966</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>USHER THOMAS J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>U.S. STEEL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>600 GRANT STREET, SUITE 6100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PITTSBURGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15219</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>155</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>38.21</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9615</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Deferred stock units acquired as a result of deferral of cash compensation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 4,915 shares of deferred stock units acquired as a result of prevously elected deferral of cash compensation and 4,700 shares of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reporting person also indirectly owns 1,000 shares of common stock as co-trustee and sole beneficiary of the Thomas J. Usher 2001 Revocable Trust.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas J. Usher</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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