<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 6/30/99,
3/31/99 AND 12/31/98 RALSTON PURINA CO. BALANCE SHEETS AND FROM THE RESTATED
6/30/99, 3/31/99 AND 12/31/98 RALSTON PURINA CO. STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  9-MOS                   6-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999             SEP-30-1999             SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999             MAR-31-1999             DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          90,600                  75,600                  70,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  688,600                 700,100                 893,600
<ALLOWANCES>                                    24,600                  24,400                  26,000
<INVENTORY>                                    560,400                 560,200                 577,400
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,441,000               1,424,300               1,632,700
<PP&E>                                       2,187,400               2,195,900               2,246,400
<DEPRECIATION>                               1,132,200               1,136,700               1,125,700
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,568,700               5,457,400               5,621,700
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,310,900               1,448,900               1,562,700
<BONDS>                                      1,599,700               1,595,800               1,725,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                        32,900                  32,900                  32,900
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,631,000               1,468,500               1,432,500
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,568,700               5,457,400               5,621,700
<SALES>                                      3,510,500               2,422,000               1,291,800
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             3,510,500               2,422,000               1,291,800
<CGS>                                        1,701,900<F1>           1,178,700<F1>             628,400<F1>
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,701,900<F1>           1,178,700<F1>             628,400<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             1,182,100<F1>             734,200<F1>             351,900<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0<F2>                   0<F2>                   0<F2>
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             139,500<F1>              94,300<F1>              49,400<F1>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                487,000                 414,800                 262,100
<INCOME-TAX>                                   171,600                 148,000                  94,300
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            341,200                 284,000                 176,800
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   341,200                 284,000                 176,800
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.10                    0.92                    0.58
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.08                    0.89                    0.55
<FN>
<F1>AMOUNT HAS BEEN RESTATED TO CONFORM TO THE FISCAL YEAR END 1999 PRESENTATION.
<F2>LOSS PROVISION INCLUDED IN OTHER-EXPENSES, ABOVE.
</FN>



</TABLE>