EXHIBIT 12

HERSHEY FOODS CORPORATION
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
For the Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001,and 2000
(in thousands of dollars except for ratios)
(Unaudited)

	2004		2003			2002			2001			2000
Earnings:
Income from continuing operations before              income taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		$835,644		$732,827	(a)		$637,565	(b)		$343,541	(c)		$546,639
Add (Deduct):
Interest on indebtedness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		67,919		65,265			64,398			71,470			80,956
Portion of rents representative of the interest factor (d). . . . . . . . . .		9,711		12,742			15,467			15,451			13,585
Amortization of debt expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		446		446			457			464			489
Amortization of capitalized interest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		3,544		3,880			4,018			4,228			325
Earnings as adjusted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		$917,264		$815,160			$721,905			$435,154			$641,994
Fixed Charges:
Interest on indebtedness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		$ 67,919		$ 65,265			$ 64,398			$ 71,470			$ 80,956
Portion of rents representative of the interest factor (d). . . . . . . . . . . .		9,711		12,742			15,467			15,451			13,585
Amortization of debt expense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		446		446			457			464			489
Capitalized interest. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		2,597		1,953			1,144			1,498			145
Total fixed charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		$ 80,673		$ 80,406			$ 81,466			$ 88,883			$ 95,175
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		11.37		10.14			8.86			4.90			6.75

NOTES:    

(a) Includes total charges for business realignment initiatives of $25.5 million and a gain on sale of business of $8.3 million.

(b) Includes total charges for business realignment initiatives of $34.0 million before tax and costs related to the potential sale of the Company of $17.2 million before tax.

(c) Includes total charges for business realignment initiatives of $278.4 million before tax.

(d) Portion of rents representative of the interest factor consists of all rental expense pertaining to off-balance sheet operating lease arrangements and one-third of rental expense for other operating leases.