UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)         August 11, 2005
                                                --------------------------------

                         AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Delaware                001-13403            84-1032638
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction     (Commission          (IRS Employer
         of incorporation)         File Number)      Identification No.)

         4100 N. Mulberry Drive, Suite 200, Kansas City, Missouri 64116
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code    (816) 584-5000
                                                           ---------------------
                                 Not Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
     CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
    Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02  Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors;
           Appointment of Principal Officers.

(b) On August 11, 2005, Richard Thompson notified American Italian Pasta Company
(the "Company") that he was resigning, effective immediately, as a member of the
Board of Directors.

                                    SIGNATURE


     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


     Date: August 16, 2005             AMERICAN ITALIAN PASTA COMPANY


                                       By:  /s/ George D. Shadid
                                          --------------------------------------
                                            George D. Shadid
                                            Chief Financial Officer