UNITED STATES
                       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)  November 7, 2003
                                                 -------------------------------

                         AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


DELAWARE                             001-13403                  84-1032638
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(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission               (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)               File Number)            Identification No.)


4100 N. Mulberry Drive, Suite 200,  Kansas City, Missouri            64116
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 (Address of principal executive offices)                           (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code     (816) 584-5000
                                                   -----------------------------



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

Item 7.     Financial Statements and Exhibits.

            (c) EXHIBITS. The following exhibits are filed herewith:

            99.1        Press Release dated November 5, 2003.


Item 12.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

         The information, including exhibits attached hereto, in this Current
Report is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of
Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise
subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in this Current
Report shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or
other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, except as otherwise
expressly stated in such filing.

         On November 5, 2003, American Italian Pasta Company (the "Company")
issued a press release announcing fourth quarter and fiscal year-end results.
The press release is set forth in Exhibit 99.1 hereto, is filed and incorporated
herein by reference.

                                    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 hereunto duly authorized.


         Date:  November 7, 2003
                                         AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY


                                         By:   /s/ Warren Schmidgall
                                             -----------------------------------
                                               Warren Schmidgall
                                               Chief Financial Officer