<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE LIFECORE BIOMEDICAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANACIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000028626 <NAME> LIFECORE BIOMEDICAL <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 661,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 5,984,000 <ALLOWANCES> 375,000 <INVENTORY> 18,699,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 20,602,000 <PP&E> 40,811,000 <DEPRECIATION> 8,281,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 65,014,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 4,727,000 <BONDS> 6,591,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 124,000 <OTHER-SE> 53,572,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 65,014,000 <SALES> 12,386,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 12,386,000 <CGS> 5,029,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 12,244,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 449,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> (142,000) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (142,000) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (142,000) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.01) <EPS-DILUTED> (.01)