Exhibit 10 (xxi)


                      SUPPLEMENT TO SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT
                      -----------------------------------

                                                                 July 25, 1995

     In  conjunction  with  the  execution of the Shareholder Agreement by and
among Interstate Bakeries Corporation ("IBC''), Ralston Purina Company and VCS
Holding  Company of even date herewith (the `Shareholder Agreement''), subject
to  the  restriction  in the following paragraphs, it is agreed by the parties
hereto  that  officers, directors and employees of Ralston who are or would be
deemed  to  be  Affiliates  of Ralston under the Shareholder Agreement will be
allowed to acquire IBC Securities during the term of the Shareholder Agreement
without  Ralston  violating  Sections  2.1(a)  or  2.1(b)  of  the Shareholder
Agreement.

     The  preceding  paragraph  is  subject  to  the restriction that under no
circumstances  during  the  term  of  the  Shareholder  Agreement  shall  IBC
Securities  acquired  in  reliance  hereof  by  such  officers,  directors  or
employees  who  are  or  would  be  deemed  to  be  Affiliates  result in such
individuals  owning  in  the  aggregate,  at  any  time during the term of the
Shareholder Agreement, more than 2% of the total outstanding shares of the IBC
Securities.  In addition, any acquisitions of IBC Securities by such officers,
directors and employees in reliance hereof shall not be made at the discretion
of  or  in  concert  with  Ralston.

Ralston  shall  be  under no obligation to attempt to prevent such individuals
from  independently  acquiring  IBC Securities unless Ralston becomes aware by
any  means,  including  notification  by  IBC,  that a proposed purchase would
result  in the 2% threshold being exceeded.  In the event that Ralston becomes
aware  or  is  notified  by IBC that the 2% threshold has been exceeded at any
time  during  the term of the Shareholder Agreement, then Ralston will use its
reasonable  best  efforts  to  cause  the  individual  or individuals who last
purchased  IBC Securities which resulted in the 2% threshold being exceeded to
divest  a  sufficient number of shares of IBC Securities so as to decrease the
aggregate ownership of all of such officers, directors and employees below the
2%  threshold.    Ralston  shall  further request such officers, directors and
employees  to refrain from purchasing such IBC Securities until such time that
IBC  has  notified  Ralston  that  the  risk of exceeding the 2% threshold has
sufficiently  diminished.

     If  the  Chief  Executive  Officer of IBC notifies RPC that the number of
shares  of  IBC Securities owned by such officers, directors and employees who
are  or would be deemed to be Affiliates of Ralston continues to exceed the 2%
threshold,  whether  on  a  continuous  or recurrent basis, then Ralston shall
immediately  take  such action necessary (including the delivery of one of its
Demand  Notices)  to  divest  at least that number of shares of IBC Securities
equal  to  the greatest number of shares owned by such officers, directors and
employees  who  would be deemed to be Affiliates in excess of the 2% threshold
in  the  prior  60  days.

     Nothing  herein shall be deemed a modification or amendment of any of the
definitions  of  the  Shareholder Agreement.  Except for the consent of IBC to
the  purchase  of  IBC  Securities by Persons who are or would be deemed to be
Affiliates  of  Ralston,  none  of  the  other  terms  or  provisions  of  the
Shareholder Agreement are amended or modified hereby.  Nothing herein shall be
deemed  to be a pre-approval by IBC or its Board of Directors of any purchases
of  IBC  Securities  by  such officers, directors or employees for purposes of
Section  203  of  the Delaware General Corporation Law or Article NINTH of the
Certificate  of  Incorporation  of  IBC,  as  amended.

          By:    P.  E.  Yarick
          ---------------------------------------------
          Its  Vice  President


          RALSTON  PURINA  COMPANY


          By:    J.  M.  Neville
          ---------------------------------------------
          Its  General  Counsel,  Vice  President
          and  Secretary


          VCS  HOLDING  COMPANY


          By:    T.  L.  Grosch
          ---------------------------------------------
          Its  Secretary