<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 9/30/98,
6/30/98, 3/31/98 AND 12/31/97 RALSTON PURINA CO. BALANCE SHEETS AND FROM THE
RESTATED 9/30/98, 6/30/98, 3/31/98 AND 12/31/97 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>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                 12-MOS                   9-MOS                   6-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998             JUN-30-1998             MAR-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                          89,800                  80,600                 146,300                 113,700
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  741,700                 716,700                 721,800                 922,700
<ALLOWANCES>                                    24,500                  26,000                  26,700                  25,000
<INVENTORY>                                    600,400                 634,900                 589,200                 558,500
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,527,500               1,523,600               1,573,400               1,690,800
<PP&E>                                       2,212,900               2,233,100               2,210,700               2,224,800
<DEPRECIATION>                               1,096,900               1,114,500               1,101,200               1,064,100
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,551,700               5,949,700               6,112,300               6,075,500
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,582,000               1,460,000               1,327,200               1,374,000
<BONDS>                                      1,794,800               1,804,500               1,820,600               1,825,700
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          256,100                 262,900                 270,300                 277,200
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                        32,600                  32,600                  11,500                  11,500
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,056,500               1,423,700               1,776,500               1,745,900
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,551,700               5,949,700               6,112,300               6,075,500
<SALES>                                      4,653,300               3,500,800               2,427,900               1,317,100
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             4,653,300               3,500,800               2,427,900               1,317,100
<CGS>                                        2,295,100<F1>           1,722,500<F1>           1,194,700<F1>             647,000<F1>
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,295,100<F1>           1,722,500<F1>           1,194,700<F1>             647,000<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             1,694,800<F1>           1,304,500<F1>             888,400<F1>             420,700<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 3,900                       0<F3>                   0<F3>                   0<F3>
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             190,100<F1>             142,300<F1>              95,000<F1>              46,100<F1>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                469,400                 331,500                 249,800                 203,300
<INCOME-TAX>                                   117,500                  73,300                  42,000                  73,600
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            390,600                 285,800                 226,200                 139,700
<DISCONTINUED>                                 715,100<F2>             715,100<F2>             714,200<F2>             720,800<F2>
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,105,700               1,000,900                 940,400                 860,500
<EPS-BASIC>                                       3.59                    3.24                    9.11                    8.37
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.38                    3.04                    8.55                    7.83
<FN>
<F1>AMOUNT HAS BEEN RESTATED TO CONFORM TO THE FISCAL YEAR END 1999 PRESENTATION.
<F2>INCLUDES A 705,100 AFTER-TAX GAIN ON THE SALE OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS.
<F3>LOSS PROVISION INCLUDED IN OTHER-EXPENSES, ABOVE.
</FN>



</TABLE>