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                                                                    EXHIBIT 12

                                 HERSHEY FOODS CORPORATION
                      COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                         (in thousands of dollars except for ratios)
                                       (Unaudited)

                                              For the Three Months Ended
                                               April 3,         April 4, 
                                                 1994             1993    
Earnings:

  Income before income taxes 
    and accounting changes. . . . . . . . . . .$88,067          $186,855 (a) 

  Add (deduct):

    Interest on indebtedness . . . . . . . . .   7,897             8,280
    Portion of rents representative of the
      interest factor (b). . . . . . . . . . .   1,821             1,943
    Amortization of debt expense . . . . . . .      16                30
    Amortization of capitalized interest . . .     712               648
                                                                              

       Earnings as adjusted. . . . . . . . . . $98,513          $197,756 
                                                                               

Fixed Charges:

    Interest on indebtedness . . . . . . . . . $ 7,897          $  8,280
    Portion of rents representative of the 
      interest factor(b) . . . . . . . . . . .   1,821             1,943  
    Amortization of debt expense . . . . . . .      16                30
    Capitalized interest . . . . . . . . . . .   1,356             1,739
                                                                               

       Total fixed charges . . . . . . . . . . $11,090          $ 11,992
                                                                               
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges . . . . . .    8.88             16.49
                                                                               


NOTES:

  (a) Includes a gain of $80.6 million on the sale of the Corporation's 18.6% 
      investment interest in Freia Marabou a.s.

  (b) Portion of rents representative of the interest factor consists of 
      one-third of rental expense for operating leases.