-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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>0001209191-10-039747.txt : 20100727
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-10-039747.hdr.sgml : 20100727
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100727171405
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-10-039747
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:			BAUM JONATHAN E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001253466

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13403
		FILM NUMBER:		10972285

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>c03760_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>0001253466</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BAUM JONATHAN E</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>1899</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>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Owned directly by George K. Baum Holdings, Inc.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <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>4809</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>
        <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>1800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>53.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <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>1172</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>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </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>
        <footnote id="F2">Owned directly by George K. Baum Holdings, Inc.  Jonathan E. Baum is the President and holds all of the voting stock of George K. Baum Holdings, Inc.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 200 shares held directly by Sarah Baum, Mr. Baum's wife, and 400 shares held in trusts for the benefit of each of Mr. Baum's four children.  Mr. Baum and his wife are the Trustees of each trust.  Mr. Baum disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that he is the beneficial owner of such shares for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Owned directly by Grandchild, L.P.  Mr. Baum holds four 16.5% limited partnership interests in Grandchild, L.P. as custodian for each of his four minor children.  Except to the extent of his beneficial ownership in Grandchild, L.P., Mr. Baum disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purposes.  The percentage interest and proportionate share of American Italian Pasta Company shares changed December 9, 1998.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jonathan E. Baum, by Robert W. Schuller as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-07-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----