Exhibit 5.1

[Letterhead of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP]

December 19, 2000

Del Monte Foods Company.
One Market
San Francisco, CA 94105

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") filed by Del Monte Foods Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the proposed offering by the Company of up to 2,945,000 shares (the "Shares") of the common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), under the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan and the Non-Employee Director and Independent Contractor 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (collectively, the "Plans").

For purposes of rendering this opinion, we have made such legal and factual examinations as we have deemed necessary under the circumstances and, as part of such examination, we have examined, among other things, originals and copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate. For the purposes of such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on original documents and the conformity to original documents of all copies submitted to us.

Based on our examination mentioned above, subject to the assumptions stated above and relying on the statements of fact contained in the documents that we have examined, we are of the opinion that (i) the issuance by the Company of the Shares has been duly authorized and (ii) when issued in accordance with the terms of the Plans, the Shares will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We are admitted to practice in the State of California, and are not admitted to practice in the State of Delaware. However, for the limited purposes of our opinion set forth above, we are generally familiar with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL") as presently in effect and have made such inquiries as we consider necessary to render this opinion with respect to a Delaware corporation. This opinion letter is limited to the laws of the State of California and, to the limited extent set forth above, the DGCL, as such laws presently exist and to the facts as they presently exist. We express no opinion with respect to the effect or applicability of the laws of any other jurisdiction. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion letter should the laws of such jurisdictions be changed after the date hereof by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the General Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Very truly yours,

/s/GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP