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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-10-002487.txt : 20100122
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-10-002487.hdr.sgml : 20100122
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100122172545
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-10-002487
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100122
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100122

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000849667
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS FOOD PREPARATIONS & KINDRED PRODUCTS [2090]
		IRS NUMBER:				841032638
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4100 N MULBERRY DRIVE SUITE 200
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64116
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8165026000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4100 N MULBERRY DRIVE SUITE 200
		CITY:			KANSS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64116

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GEIST PAUL R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184804

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13403
		FILM NUMBER:		10542809

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4100 N. MULBERRY DRIVE, SUITE 200
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64116
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-01-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000849667</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AIPC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184804</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GEIST PAUL R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4100 N. MULBERRY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KANSAS CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>64116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock, par value $.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-01-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>802</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.99</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>31579</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">2,366 shares of restricted stock granted to Mr. Geist vested on January 20, 2010.  802 shares are being delivered to the Company to pay the tax liability due upon the vesting of these shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Paul R. Geist by Robert Schuller, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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