-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PAZ4lb0xPQVOmcNa+ZBGXHUxy7S5sZV+8xXMYncYidOCm1QuF95YzB4Uca72jbUR
 sDY0y+xVYqWNF+++hCnC8Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001243120-03-000001.txt : 20030619
<SEC-HEADER>0001243120-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030619
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030619163959
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001243120-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030502
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030619

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEL MONTE FOODS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000866873
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CANNED, FRUITS, VEG & PRESERVES, JAMS & JELLIES [2033]
		IRS NUMBER:				133542950
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0427

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MARKET @ THE LANDMARK
		STREET 2:		C/O DEL MONTE CORP
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94105
		BUSINESS PHONE:		415-247-3000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DMPF HOLDINGS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19600201

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MORGAN JOE L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001243120

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14335
		FILM NUMBER:		03750484

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 193575
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94119-3575
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4152473100
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-02</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000866873</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DEL MONTE FOODS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DLM</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001243120</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MORGAN JOE L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.01, par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1114</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>7.94</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2119</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivative
Security><footnotes/><ownerSignature><signatureName>James Potter, signed pursuant to Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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