<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE RESTATED
RALSTON PURINA COMPANY STATEMENT OF EARNINGS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 3/31/99 AND
BALANCE SHEET AT 9/30/99 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999             SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999             SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                               0<F2>                  56,600<F3>
<SECURITIES>                                         0<F2>                       0<F3>
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0<F2>                 208,300<F3>
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0<F2>                   4,700<F3>
<INVENTORY>                                          0<F2>                 119,200<F3>
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F2>                 418,200<F3>
<PP&E>                                               0<F2>               1,164,200<F3>
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0<F2>                 574,700<F3>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       0<F2>               4,735,200<F3>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0<F2>               1,385,600<F3>
<BONDS>                                              0<F2>               1,249,900<F3>
<COMMON>                                             0<F2>                  32,900<F3>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0<F2>                       0<F3>
<PREFERRED>                                          0<F2>                       0<F3>
<OTHER-SE>                                           0<F2>               1,224,100<F3>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         0<F2>               4,735,200<F3>
<SALES>                                      1,369,700<F3>                       0<F2>
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,369,700<F3>                       0<F2>
<CGS>                                          598,900<F3>                       0<F2>
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  598,900<F3>                       0<F2>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               343,600<F3>                       0<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0<F1>                       0<F2>
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              92,900<F3>                       0<F2>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                334,300<F3>                       0<F2>
<INCOME-TAX>                                   115,300<F3>                       0<F2>
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            236,200<F3>                       0<F2>
<DISCONTINUED>                                  47,800<F3>                       0<F2>
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0<F3>                       0<F2>
<CHANGES>                                            0<F3>                       0<F2>
<NET-INCOME>                                   284,000<F3>                       0<F2>
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.92<F3>                       0<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.89<F3>                       0<F2>
<FN>
<F1>LOSS - PROVISION INCLUDED IN OTHER-EXPENSE ABOVE
<F2>INFORMATION NOT PROVIDED AS PART OF 10-Q FILING FOR PERIOD ENDED 3-31-00
<F3>AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN RESTATED DUE TO THE SPIN-OFF OF THE BATTERY PRODUCTS BUSINESS
</FN>


</TABLE>