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 2,    April 3,
                                                         1995        1994    
Earnings:                          

 Income before income taxes                           $101,393     $ 88,067     

  Add (deduct):

    Interest on indebtedness                             9,890        7,897   
    Portion of rents representative of the
      interest factor(a)                                 1,919        1,821   
    Amortization of debt expense                            14           16   
    Amortization of capitalized interest                   786          712
                                                                                

     Earnings as adjusted                             $114,002     $ 98,513   
                                                                                

Fixed Charges:

    Interest on indebtedness                          $  9,890     $  7,897   
    Portion of rents representative of the
      interest factor(a)                                 1,919        1,821 
    Amortization of debt expense                            14           16   
    Capitalized interest                                   294        1,356   
                                                                                

     Total fixed charges                              $ 12,117     $ 11,090   

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges                        9.41         8.88     
                                                                                


NOTE:

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