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
                                                                            
                                                     March 31,    April 2,
                                                       1996         1995    
Earnings:

  Income before income taxes                         $ 99,190     $101,393     

  Add (deduct):

    Interest on indebtedness                           13,116        9,890     
    Portion of rents representative of the
      interest factor(a)                                1,870        1,919     
    Amortization of debt expense                           56           14     
    Amortization of capitalized interest                  832          786
                                                                                
     Earnings as adjusted                            $115,064     $114,002      
                                                                            
Fixed Charges:

    Interest on indebtedness                         $ 13,116     $  9,890     
    Portion of rents representative of the
      interest factor(a)                                1,870        1,919      
    Amortization of debt expense                           56           14      
    Capitalized interest                                  755          294      
                                                                                
     Total fixed charges                             $ 15,797     $ 12,117     
                                                                         
                                
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges                       7.28         9.41     
                                                                            
  
NOTE:

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