<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of income on pages 18 through 19 of the Company's 1998 Annual Report to Stockholders and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001007507 <NAME> Morrison Health Care, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAY-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1998 <CASH> 5,720 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 22,268 <ALLOWANCES> 887 <INVENTORY> 2,936 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 39,620 <PP&E> 24,191 <DEPRECIATION> 10,232 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 84,374 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 32,276 <BONDS> 31,690 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 124 <OTHER-SE> 8,248 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 84,374 <SALES> 250,371 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 250,371 <CGS> 207,265 <TOTAL-COSTS> 207,265 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,528 <INCOME-PRETAX> 19,065 <INCOME-TAX> 7,513 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 11,552 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,552 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.97 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.95