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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                     [LETTERHEAD OF VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.]

(214) 220-7700                                                    (214) 999-7700
                                  
                                August 24, 1998


International Home Foods, Inc.
1633 Littleton Road
Parsippany, New Jersey 07054

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel for International Home Foods, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), in connection with the Company's
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "ACT"), of
300,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company which
may be purchased in the open market and offered from time to time under the
International Home Foods 401(k) Savings Plan (as amended, the "PLAN") and of an
indeterminate amount of interests in the Plan (the "INTERESTS") under the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT")
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION").

         In reaching the opinions set forth herein, we have examined and are
familiar with originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our
satisfaction, of such documents and records of the Company and such statutes,
regulations and other instruments as we deemed necessary or advisable for
purposes of this opinion, including (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as filed with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (iii) the Bylaws of the
Company, (iv) certain minutes of meetings of, and resolutions adopted by, the
Board of Directors of the Company relating to the Plan, and (v) the Plan.

         We have assumed that (i) all information contained in all documents we
reviewed is true, correct and complete, (ii) all signatures on all documents we
reviewed are genuine, (iii) all documents submitted to us as originals are true
and complete, (iv) all documents submitted to us as copies are true and
complete copies of the originals thereof, and (v) all persons executing and
delivering the documents we examined were competent to execute and deliver such
documents.

         Based on the foregoing, and having due regard for the legal
considerations we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that the Interests, when
offered and issued by the Company pursuant to the terms of the Plan, will be
legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

         This opinion is limited in all respects to the laws of the State of
Texas, the Delaware General Corporation Law and the federal laws of the United
States of America.  You should be aware that we are not admitted to the
practice of law in the State of Delaware.


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International Home Foods, Inc.
June 18, 1998
Page 2


         This opinion letter may be filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.  In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within
the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or
the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

                                                Very truly yours,

                                                /s/ Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

                                                VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.