<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NUTRACEUTICAL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION'S FINANCIAL POSITION AS OF MARCH 31, 2000 AND THE RESULTS OF ITS OPERATIONS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000 <CASH> 1,387 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 11,927 <ALLOWANCES> 1,241 <INVENTORY> 26,539 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 40,523 <PP&E> 30,127 <DEPRECIATION> 14,266 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 109,842 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 11,053 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 118 <OTHER-SE> 60,560 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 109,842 <SALES> 56,324 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 56,324 <CGS> 29,456 <TOTAL-COSTS> 29,456 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 20,024 <LOSS-PROVISION> 64 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,364 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,480 <INCOME-TAX> 2,137 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,343 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,343 <EPS-BASIC> .28 <EPS-DILUTED> .27