POWER OF ATTORNEY


By this Power of Attorney given this 23rd day of August 2005, D. Edward I.
Smyth, an individual residing at 501 Chestnut Road, Sewickley, Pennsylvania
15143, authorizes Theodore N. Bobby, Esquire, Senior Vice President and General
Counsel of H. J. Heinz Company, Patrick J. Guinee, Esquire, Assistant General
Counsel of H. J. Heinz Company, and Rene D. Biedzinski, Corporate Secretary 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, individually, the "Attorney"), to
perform the following on my behalf:

         To prepare, execute, and file on my behalf all Forms 3, 4, and 5, and
         amendments thereto, 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.

I hereby revoke the Power of Attorney dated August 15, 2002. This Power of
Attorney is valid until revoked by me.

I acknowledge that the Attorneys, in serving in such capacity at my request, are
not assuming, nor is H. J. Heinz Company assuming, any of my responsibilities to
comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.




          /s/   D. Edward I. Smyth
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                D. Edward I. Smyth