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                                                                      EXHIBIT 12

                  H. J. HEINZ FINANCE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

               COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

<Table>
<Caption>
                                                              Fiscal Years Ended
                                  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  April 28, 2004   April 30, 2003   May 1, 2002    May 2, 2001    May 3, 2000
(in thousands)                      (52 weeks)       (52 weeks)      (52 weeks)     (52 weeks)    (53 weeks)
--------------                    --------------   --------------   ------------   ------------   -----------
<S>                               <C>              <C>              <C>            <C>            <C>
Fixed Charges:
  Interest expense(a)...........     $139,427         $149,316        $145,966       $ 20,712      $  5,027
  Capitalized interest..........           --               --              --          1,917            --
  Interest component of rental
     expense....................        7,759            6,822           8,869         10,307         7,949
                                     --------         --------        --------       --------      --------
     Total fixed charges........     $147,186         $156,138        $154,835       $ 32,936      $ 12,976
                                     --------         --------        --------       --------      --------
Earnings:
  Income from continuing
     operations before income
     taxes, minority interest
     and cumulative effect of
     accounting changes.........     $433,958         $258,290        $462,688       $444,155      $511,848
  Add: Interest expense(a)......      139,427          149,316         145,966         20,712         5,027
  Add: Interest component of
     rental expense.............        7,759            6,822           8,869         10,307         7,949
  Add: Amortization of
     capitalized interest.......           --               --             128            715           715
                                     --------         --------        --------       --------      --------
     Earnings as adjusted.......     $581,144         $414,428        $617,651       $475,889      $525,539
                                     --------         --------        --------       --------      --------
  Ratio of earnings to fixed
     charges....................         3.95             2.65            3.99          14.45         40.50
                                     ========         ========        ========       ========      ========
</Table>

---------------
(a) Interest expense includes amortization of debt expense and any discount or
    premium relating to indebtedness.

                      H. J. HEINZ COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

               COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

<Table>
<Caption>
                                                              Fiscal Years Ended
                                  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  April 28, 2004   April 30, 2003   May 1, 2002    May 2, 2001    May 3, 2000
(in thousands)                      (52 weeks)       (52 weeks)      (52 weeks)     (52 weeks)    (53 weeks)
--------------                    --------------   --------------   ------------   ------------   -----------
<S>                               <C>              <C>              <C>            <C>            <C>
Fixed Charges:
  Interest expense(a)...........    $  215,563       $  226,152      $  233,657     $  265,062    $  208,845
  Capitalized interest..........            --               --              48          8,239            --
  Interest component of rental
     expense....................        33,276           27,666          28,217         26,344        29,054
                                    ----------       ----------      ----------     ----------    ----------
     Total fixed charges........    $  248,839       $  253,818      $  261,922     $  299,645    $  237,899
                                    ----------       ----------      ----------     ----------    ----------
Earnings:
  Income from continuing
     operations before income
     taxes and effect of change
     in accounting principle....    $1,168,551       $  868,731      $1,050,520     $  754,426    $1,288,691
  Add: Interest expense(a)......       215,563          226,152         233,657        265,062       208,845
  Add: Interest component of
     rental expense.............        33,276           27,666          28,217         26,344        29,054
  Add: Amortization of
     capitalized interest.......         1,924            1,666           1,862          2,129         2,799
                                    ----------       ----------      ----------     ----------    ----------
     Earnings as adjusted.......    $1,419,314       $1,124,215      $1,314,256     $1,047,961    $1,529,389
                                    ----------       ----------      ----------     ----------    ----------
  Ratio of earnings to fixed
     charges....................          5.70             4.43            5.02           3.50          6.43
                                    ==========       ==========      ==========     ==========    ==========
</Table>

---------------
(a) Interest expense includes amortization of debt expense and any discount or
    premium relating to indebtedness.