Exhibit 12  
 
    INTERNATIONAL MULTIFOODS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES  
  
     Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges  
                     (unaudited)  
  
                   (in thousands)  
  
  
  
                                           THREE MONTHS ENDED  
                                            May 31,    May 31,  
                                              1997       1996  
- ------------------------------------------------------------- 
Earnings (loss) before income taxes        $ 2,857    $(1,082)  
Plus: Fixed charges (1)                      7,766      6,680  
Less: Capitalized interest                      (9)        (9)  
- -------------------------------------------------------------  
Earnings available to cover  
  fixed charges                            $10,614    $ 5,589  
=============================================================  
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(2)         1.37        .84  
=============================================================  
  
(1) Fixed charges consisted of the following:  
 
                                           THREE MONTHS ENDED  
                                            May 31,    May 31,  
                                              1997       1996  
- ------------------------------------------------------------- 
Interest expense, gross                     $5,422     $4,389  
Rentals (Interest factor)                    2,344      2,291 
- -------------------------------------------------------------  
  Total fixed charges                       $7,766     $6,680  
=============================================================  
  
(2) For the three months ended May 31, 1996 earnings were  
    inadequate to cover fixed charges by $1,091.  The   
    deficiency was the result of unusual items.  Excluding   
    the unusual items the ratio of earnings to fixed  
    charges would have been 1.38 for the three months ended   
    May 31, 1996.