<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
RESTATED FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE FOR 1996

THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
THE RESTATED RALSTON PURINA COMPANY BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS 
OF EARNINGS FOR THE PERIODS ENDED 9/30/96, 6/30/96, 3/31/96 AND 
12/31/95.  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THESE BALANCE SHEETS AND 
STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY 
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<RESTATED> 
       
<S>                 		              <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                		   12-MOS                   9-MOS                   6-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1996	     SEP-30-1996	            SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996             JUN-30-1996             MAR-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                          62,300                  62,300                  61,600                  71,800
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  688,900                 639,200                 634,200                 832,100
<ALLOWANCES>                                    26,700                  26,600                  26,500                  27,100
<INVENTORY>                                    628,200                 653,100                 648,000                 590,800
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,472,700               1,440,600               1,448,600               1,596,400
<PP&E>                                       2,057,600               2,026,200               1,996,100               1,965,200
<DEPRECIATION>                               1,006,700               1,000,500                 988,300                 970,200
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,523,000               4,429,900               4,393,500               4,501,900
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,703,000               1,658,700               1,557,200               1,641,800
<BONDS>                                      1,437,000               1,446,000               1,547,200               1,586,800
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          323,500                 327,000                 336,900                 336,900
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                        11,500                  11,500                  11,500                  11,500
<OTHER-SE>                                     677,500                 622,800                 590,900                 602,800
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,523,000               4,429,900               4,393,500               4,501,900
<SALES>                                      4,301,900               3,213,200               2,211,500               1,217,600
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             4,301,900               3,213,200               2,211,500               1,217,600
<CGS>                                        2,206,000               1,640,800               1,122,800                 609,300
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,206,000               1,640,800               1,122,800                 609,300
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             1,451,700               1,090,400                 750,200                 384,900
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 6,200                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             190,300                 145,400                  99,200                  49,700
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                447,700                 336,600                 239,300                 173,700
<INCOME-TAX>                                   162,900                 121,500                  88,600                  65,200
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            296,400                 221,100                 154,100                 110,400
<DISCONTINUED>                                  65,300                  50,800                  33,600                  18,100
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  2,100                   2,100                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   359,600                 269,800                 187,600                 128,500
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.39                    2.55                    1.77                    1.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.21                    2.41                    1.67                    1.15
<FN>
<F1>LOSS-PROVISION INCLUDED IN OTHER-EXPENSES ABOVE FOR 9 MOS., 
    6 MOS. AND 3 MOS. PERIODS
</FN>
        


</TABLE>