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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-10-039742.txt : 20100727
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-10-039742.hdr.sgml : 20100727
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100727170846
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-10-039742
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100723
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100727
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100727

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DRUTEN ROBERT J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001113486

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13403
		FILM NUMBER:		10972224

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CROWN MEDIA HOLDINGS INC
		STREET 2:		6430 S FIDDLERS GREEN CIR STE 500
		CITY:			ENGLEWOOD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80111

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:		1251 N.W. BRIARCLIFF PARKWAY, SUITE 500
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64116
		BUSINESS PHONE:		816-584-5000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1251 N.W. BRIARCLIFF PARKWAY, SUITE 500
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64116
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c03762_4x0.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-07-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001113486</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DRUTEN ROBERT J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1251 N.W. BRIARCLIFF PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KANSAS CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>64116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Convertible Common Stock, par value $.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-07-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>U</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7067</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>53.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares of Class A Convertible Common Stock of American Italian Pasta Company (the &quot;Company&quot;) held by the reporting person tendered pursuant to the tender offer, which was launched in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 20, 2010, by and among Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. (&quot;Parent&quot;), Excelsior Acquisition Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, and the Company, as amended.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert J. Druten, by Robert W. Schuller as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-07-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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