<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 21
 
         
                           NABISCO HOLDINGS CORP.
         
         
         
                                                  Date of             Place of
Name of Subsidiary                             Incorporation       Incorporation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nabisco, Inc.                                   Feb 03, 1898    New Jersey
Airco IHC. Inc.                                 Mar 22, 1989    Delaware
A/O Nabisco                                     Aug 16, 1994    Russia
Arrimo Fomento Comercial Ltda.*                 Oct 27, 1987    Brazil         
Avare (I.C.P.A. Cerqeirense Ltda)               May 11, 1971    Brazil         
Batavia Inc.                                    Jul 31, 1951    New Jersey     
Beech-Nut Life Savers (Panama) S.A.             Jul 12, 1963    Panama         
Beijing Nabisco Food Company Ltd. (91.9%)       Mar 16, 1995    China          
Carnes y Conservas Espanolas, S.A. (CARCESA)    Dec 02, 1975    Spain          
Cartera e Inversiones S.A.*                     Mar 05, 1979    Peru           
Colophon Company Limited**                      Jul 09, 1981    Bermuda        
Comercial Benut, S.A. de C.V.**                 Mar 16, 1977    Mexico         
Companhia Produtos Pilar                        Jun 23, 1934    Brazil         
Compania Venezolana de Conservas C.A.(COVENCO)  Jul 25, 1969    Venezuela      
Consiber, S.A.                                  Mar 31, 1979    Spain           
Covenco Holding C.A.                            Nov 26, 1991    Venezuela       
Dely, S.A.                                      Dec 18, 1960    Guatemala       
Distribuidora Pan Americana, S.A.               Oct 22, 1974    Panama          
Establecimiento Modelo Terrabusi S.A. (99.2%)   Dec 20, 1929    Argentina       
Exhold Limited*                                 Oct 03, 1989    Liberia         
Fleischmann Argentina S.A.*                     Dec 13, 1990    Argentina       
Fleischmann Corporation, The                    Nov 02, 1929    Delaware        
Fleischmann International, Inc.                 Nov 20, 1944    Delaware        
Fleischmann Peruana Inc.                        Sep 01, 1939    Delaware        
Fleischmann Uruguaya S.A.                       Mar 09, 1961    Uruguay         
Freezer Queen Foods (Canada) Limited            Nov 03, 1967    Ontario, Canada 
Fulmer Corporation Limited                      May 15, 1981    Bahamas         
Galletas Artiach, S.A.                          Jul 23, 1932    Spain           
Galletas Fontaneda, S.A.                                        Spain           
Gelatinas Ecuatorianas S.A. (66.7%)             Nov 21, 1978    Ecuador         
Grupo Gamesa, S.A. de C.V. (1%)                 Jul 29, 1981    Mexico          
Hanover Servicing, Inc.                         Apr 13, 1992    Delaware        
Hervin Company, The                             May 28, 1965    Oregon          
Hervin Holdings, Inc.                           Mar 29, 1988    Delaware        
Huntley & Palmer Foods Pensions Limited                 1967    England         


   * Inactive                                                  Page 1
  ** In Liquidation                                            NHC-SUB-96
 *** Parntership/Joint Venture/Trust                           December 31, 1996
**** Nameholder                                                Revised 3/4/97

<PAGE>
 
 
         
                           NABISCO HOLDINGS CORP.
         
         
         
                                                Date of            Place of
Name of Subsidiary                           Incorporation      Incorporation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         
IGB - Industria Grafica Brasilicra S.A.       Jul 07, 1945     Brazil           
Industria de Colores y Sabores S.A.*          Jun 21, 1967     Colombia         
Industria de Laticinios Gloria Ltda.*         Jan 18, 1978     Brazil           
Industrias Alimenticias Maguary Ltda.         May 07, 1953     Brazil           
Iracema Industrias de Caju Ltda.              Aug 08, 1978     Brazil           
Jupiter Produtos Alimenticios Ltda.           Mar 02, 1962     Brazil           
Knox Company, The                             Dec 30, 1991     New Jersey       
Landers Centro Americana Fabricantes de
   Molinos Marca "Corona",
   S.A. de C.V. (95%)**                       Jan 09, 1979     Honduras
Landers y Cia, S.A.                           Oct 01, 1951     Colombia         
Leite Gloria do Nordeste S.A.                 May 16, 1968     Brazil         
Life Savers Manufacturing, Inc.               Apr 21, 1976     Delaware         
Lowney Inc.                                   Jan 01, 1983     Federal, Canada  
Luis Vizzolini e Hijos S.A.I.C.               Jun 12, 1961     Argentina        
Mahachai Holding Co. Ltd. (49%)               Jan 07, 1986     Thailand         
Marbu, S.A.                                   Oct 26, 1967     Spain            
Merola Finance B.V.*                          May 09, 1995     Netherlands      
MEX Holdings, Ltd.                            Nov 27, 1991     Delaware         
Mont Pelrin Inc.                              May 05, 1954     New Jersey       
NABEC, S.A.                                   Nov 17, 1982     Ecuador          
Nabisco Arabia Co. Ltd.***                    Jan 29, 1996     Saudi Arabia     
Nabisco Argentina S.A.                        Mar 14, 1994     Argentina        
Nabisco Biscuit Manufacturing (Midwest), Inc. Dec 21, 1988     Delaware         
Nabisco Biscuit Manufacturing (West), Inc.    Dec 21, 1988     Delaware         
Nabisco Brands Company                        Aug 01, 1995     Delaware         
Nabisco Brands Holdings Denmark Limited       Apr 17, 1989     Liberia          
Nabisco Brands Nominees Limited*              Aug 22, 1983     England          
Nabisco Brazil, Inc.                          May 10, 1990     Delaware         
Nabisco Caribbean Export, Inc.                Jun 13, 1984     Delaware         
Nabisco/Cetus Food Biotechnology                                                
   Research Partnership (80%)***              Mar 01, 1984     Delaware         
Nabisco (China) Limited                       Aug 29, 1995     China            
Nabisco Chongqing Food Company Ltd.*          Mar 01, 1995     China            
Nabisco de Nicaragua, S.A. (60%)              Dec 10, 1965     Nicaragua        
Nabisco de Puerto Rico, Inc.                  Sep 21, 1951     New York         
Nabisco Direct, Inc.                          Aug 23, 1995     Delaware         
Nabisco Dominicana, S.A.                      Dec 11, 1995     Dom. Repub.      
Nabisco England IHC, Inc.                     Mar 29, 1989     Delaware         
Nabisco Enterprises IHC, Inc.                 Mar 22, 1989     Delaware         
Nabisco Europe, Middle East and               Oct 28, 1992     Spain          
   Africa Trading, S.A.                                                
Nabisco Food (Suzhou) Co. Ltd.                Mar 16, 1995     China 


                                                  
   * Inactive                                                  Page 2
  ** In Liquidation                                            NHC-SUB-96
 *** Parntership/Joint Venture/Trust                           December 31, 1996
**** Nameholder                                                Revised 3/4/97

<PAGE>
 
 
         
                           NABISCO HOLDINGS CORP.
         
         
         
                                                Date of            Place of
Name of Subsidiary                           Incorporation      Incorporation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           
Nabisco Group Ltd.                            Jun 02, 1995     Delaware       
Nabisco Group Pensions Investments Ltd.       Jun 07, 1962     England        
Nabisco Group Pensions Limited                Sep 13, 1977     England        
Nabisco Holdings I.B.V.                       May 03, 1996     Netherlands    
Nabisco Holdings II.B.V.                      May 28, 1996     Netherlands    
Nabisco Holdings IHC, Inc.                    Mar 22, 1989     Delaware       
Nabisco Hong Kong Limited                     Apr 12, 1994     Hong Kong      
Nabisco Iberia Ltda.                          Dec 23, 1916     Portugal       
Nabisco Iberia, S.L. (98.06%)                 Jul 15, 1993     Spain          
Nabisco, Inc. Foreign Sales Corporation       Dec 17, 1991     US Virgin Is.  
Nabisco International, Inc.                   Jul 29, 1947     Delaware       
Nabisco International Limited                 Dec 11, 1987     Nevada         
Nabisco International M.E./Africa L.L.C. (49%)Mar 22, 1989     Dubai, U.A.E.
Nabisco International Market                                                   
   Development Group, Inc.                                     Delaware       
Nabisco International, S.A.                   Nov 26, 1953     Panama         
Nabisco Investments, Inc.                     Mar 22, 1989     Delaware       
Nabisco Investments Ltd.                      Jan 30, 1996     Federal, Canada
Nabisco Ltd.                                  Jan 01, 1993     Federal, Canada
Nabisco Music Publishers, Inc.                Mar 24, 1986     Delaware       
Nabisco Music Ventures, Inc.                  Mar 24, 1986     Delaware       
Nabisco (New Zealand) Limited****             Mar 30, 1990     New Zealand    
Nabisco Pension Trust Limited                 Aug 31, 1956     England        
Nabisco Peru S.A.                             Jan 28, 1972     Peru           
Nabisco Royal Argentina Inc.                  Sep 29, 1934     Delaware       
Nabisco Royal Chile Limitada                  Mar 22, 1978     Chile          
Nabisco Royal Colombiana Inc.                 Jan 03, 1938     Delaware       
Nabisco Royal de Honduras, S.A.               Jul 22, 1982     Honduras       
Nabisco Royal del Ecuador, S.A.               Sep 16, 1977     Ecuador        
Nabisco Royal Inc.                            Sep 03, 1932     Delaware       
Nabisco Royal Panama, S.A.                    Mar 07, 1979     Panama         
Nabisco S.A. de C.V. (99.5%)                  Jun 15, 1992     Mexico         
Nabisco Taiwan Corporation                    May 27, 1996     Taiwan         
Nabisco Technology Company                    Dec 13, 1996     Delaware       
Nabisco Trading AG                            Aug 02, 1960     Switzerland    
Nabisco Tunisia S.A.                          Jul 02, 1976     Tunisia        
Nabisco Venezuela, C.A.                       Nov 26, 1991     Venezuela      
National Biscuit Company****                  Jan 17, 1971     Delaware       
Nova Zembla Inc.                              Aug 19, 1975     New Jersey

                 
                

   * Inactive                                                  Page 3
  ** In Liquidation                                            NHC-SUB-96
 *** Parntership/Joint Venture/Trust                           December 31, 1996
**** Nameholder                                                Revised 3/4/97

<PAGE>
 
 
         
                           NABISCO HOLDINGS CORP.
         
         
         
                                                Date of            Place of
Name of Subsidiary                           Incorporation      Incorporation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         
Plush Pippin Corporation                      Aug 06, 1986     Washington      
Plush Pippin Restaurants, Inc.                Aug 29, 1974     Oregon          
Posto Apolo Ltda.                             Dec 05, 1984     Brazil          
Productos Alimenticios Royal S.A.             Jan 01, 1966     Costa Rica      
Productos Capri S.A.I.C.I.                    May 18, 1971     Argentina       
Productos Confitados Salvavidas de
   Guatemala, S.A.                            Jul 03, 1974     Guatemala       
Productos Mayco S.A.I.C.I.F.                  May 11, 1962     Argentina       
Productos Royal S.A.*                         Dec 27, 1977     Argentina       
Produtos Alimenticios                                                         
   Fleischmann e Royal Ltda.                  Nov 28, 1964     Brazil          
PT Nabisco Foods                                               Indonesia       
Ritz Biscuit Company Limited****              Sep 28, 1989     England         
RJR Industries (U.K.) Limited**               Jun 01, 1982     England         
RJR Nabisco Securities Ltd.                   Sep 28, 1987     Federal, Canada 
Royal Beech - Nut (Proprietary) Ltd. (49%)    Jan 02, 1945     S. Africa       
Royal Holding C.A.                            Nov 26, 1991     Venezuela       
Royal Productos Alimenticios, C.A.            Jul 26, 1971     Venezuela       
Salvavidas S. de R.L. de C.V.**               Mar 30, 1967     Mexico          
Saria Inc.                                    Mar 09, 1956     New Jersey      
Smiths Foods**                                Jul 26, 1922     England         
Stella D'oro Biscuit Co., Inc.                Jan 02, 1948     New York        
Tevalca Holding C.A.                          Nov 26, 1991     Venezuela       
Transapolo - Transportes Rodoviarios                                          
   Apolo Ltda.                                Oct 24, 1984     Brazil          
20th Century Denmark Limited                  Mar 06, 1990     Liberia         
West Indies Yeast Company Limited (72%)       Nov 29, 1965     Jamaica         
Yili - Nabisco Biscuit & Food Company                                          
   Limited (51%)***                           Jan 29, 1985     China           
                 
                 
                 


   * Inactive                                                  Page 4
  ** In Liquidation                                            NHC-SUB-96
 *** Parntership/Joint Venture/Trust                           December 31, 1996
**** Nameholder                                                Revised 3/4/97