1.0.0.3 false Income Taxes false 1 $ false false Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 2 Income Taxes [Abstract] 0 hnz_IncomeTaxesAbstract hnz false na duration string Income Taxes. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false Income Taxes. false 3 Income Taxes 1 us-gaap_IncomeTaxDisclosureTextBlock us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0  <html> <head></head> <body>  <div style="margin-left: 0%"> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #FFFFFF; text-align: left"> <tr> <td width="4%"></td> <td width="96%"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">(4)<b>  </b> </font> </td> <td> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Income Taxes</font></b> </td> </tr> </table> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 4%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #FFFFFF"> The total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions, including positions impacting only the timing of tax benefits, was $83.5 million and $86.6 million, on July 29, 2009 and April 29, 2009, respectively. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate was $53.0 million and $51.9 million, on July 29, 2009 and April 29, 2009, respectively. It is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by as much as $31.1 million in the next 12 months primarily due to the progression of federal, state, and foreign audits in process. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 4%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #FFFFFF"> The Company classifies interest and penalties on tax uncertainties as a component of the provision for income taxes. The total amount of interest and penalties accrued as of July 29, 2009 was $21.8 million and $1.9 million, respectively. The corresponding amounts of accrued interest and penalties at April 29, 2009 were $22.5 million and $2.2 million, respectively. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 4%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #FFFFFF"> The provision for income taxes consists of provisions for federal, state and foreign income taxes. The Company operates in an international environment with significant operations in various locations outside the U.S. Accordingly, the consolidated income tax rate is a composite rate reflecting the earnings in various locations and the applicable tax rates. In the normal course of business the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world, including such major jurisdictions as Australia, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Company has substantially concluded all income tax matters in the United Kingdom for years through Fiscal 2006, all Italian and U.S. federal income tax matters for years through Fiscal 2005, and all Australian and Canadian income tax matters for years through Fiscal 2004. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 4%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #FFFFFF"> The effective tax rate for the current quarter was 28.5% compared to 28.2% last year. The current quarter effective tax rate benefits from tax planning implemented during the third quarter of Fiscal 2009. The prior year first quarter effective tax rate reflected a discrete benefit resulting from the tax effects of law changes in the U.K. of approximately $11 million. </div> </div> </body> </html>    (4)   false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true