EXECUTIVE LIFE PLAN

At  retirement,  provided you are enrolled in the Partnership Life Plan, Ralston
Purina  Company  (the  Company)  will  provide  an  Executive  Life  benefit.

Your  participation  in  the  Company's  Partnership  Life  insurance program is
voluntary.    However,  to  benefit  from  the  Executive  Life  Plan  you  must
participate  in  Partnership  Life  Plan  with  coverage  of  at least one times
earnings  at  the  time  of  your  retirement  from  the  Company.

I.          ELIBIGILITY

The  class  of  employees  eligible  for  coverage  under this Plan consists of:

*       Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, any corporate
Vice  President,  Secretary,  Treasurer  of  Ralston;

*          Chairman  of  the  Board, Chief Executive Officers, President and any
corporate  Vice  President  of EBC and any other affiliate designated by a Chief
Executive  Officer  of  Ralston;

*          Vice  Presidents  of administrative or operating divisions of Ralston
(appointed  by  a  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  Ralston);

*          Any  other person designated by a Chief Executive Officer of Ralston;

*        Former Vice Presidents of administrative and operating divisions of the
Company,  and former Chairmen of the Board, Chief Executive Officers, Presidents
and  corporate  Vice  Presidents  of  a  participating  affiliate.

Additionally,  you  must  be age 55 with at least two years of service and leave
voluntarily  or  involuntarily  for  coverage  to  continue,  or you must have a
combination  of  age  and  years  of  service  totaling  at  least  80 and leave
involuntarily.    You  will  not be eligible for coverage under this Plan if you
terminate  from  the  Company or one of its affiliates by reason of divestiture,
spinoff  or other disposition of a subsidiary, division, or other business unit.

Individuals  employed  by  a  foreign  affiliate of the Company who are not U.S.
citizens  and,  except  at  the discretion of the Vice president and Director of
Administration,  U.S.  citizens  employed by a foreign affiliate of Ralston, are
ineligible  for  coverage  under  this  Plan.

II.          DEATH  BENEFIT

At retirement, if you are enrolled in the Partnership Life Plan with coverage of
at  least  one  times earnings, the Company will provide a death benefit to your
designated  beneficiary  equal  to  50% of your previous calendar year's benefit
earnings  at  the  time  you  retire.

The  benefits  payable  under  the  Plan  are  taxable as ordinary income to the
beneficiary.   However, the amount of actual payment will be increased to offset
the  approximate  tax  consequences.

II.          MODIFICATION,  TERMINATION  OF  COVERAGE

The  Company may amend the provisions or terminate the Plan at any time, subject
to  the  following  restrictions:

A.          The nature and scope of coverage for any actively employed executive
covered  by  this  Plan  will  not  be  reduced or terminated unless coverage is
reduced  or  terminated  for  the  entire  class  of  covered  executives.

B.       The nature and scope of coverage for retired executives covered by this
Plan  will  not  be  changed  to  the detriment of the retired executives unless
mandated  by  law.

C.     The Company reserves the right to assign its rights and obligations under
this  Plan  to  a  third  party.