1. Global Responsibility 2013Health Environment Sourcing Workplace Community

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Table of Contents76 APPENDIX 76 Environmental Data Summary 77 GRI Index 2 INTRODUCTION10 HEALTH 11 Overview 11 Our approach: invest and innovate 12 Our strategies and actions 13 Provide nutritious food 21 Educate consumers 24 Advance global food safety26 ENVIRONMENT 27 Overview 28 Our approach: measure and reduce 29 Our strategies and actions 30 Reduce resource usage in our operations 39Increase sustainability of ingredients66 COMMUNITY 67 Overview 68 Our approach: connect and lead 68 Our strategies and actions 69Alleviate hunger and advancenutrition wellness 72 Improve education 74 Strengthen communities40 SOURCING 41 Overview 42 Our approach: plan and execute 42 Our strategies and actions 43 Increase sustainability of ingredients 50 Improve global water stewardship 52 Improve supplier sustainability54 WORKPLACE 55 Overview 56 Our approach: inspiration and action 56 Our strategies and actions 57 Build a strong workplace culture 61 Maintain a safe workplace 63 Respect, develop and invest in employees 3. General Mills Global Responsibility 01Acknowledging and addressing the inter-relationship of economic, environmentaland social value is a necessity intodays world. For companies lookingto responsibly address truly globalchallenges, it is also an opportunity. AtGeneral Mills, we call our approachHolistic Value Creation. We look tocreate value holistically not only forour shareholders, our customers and ourconsumers, but also for our suppliers,our communities and our world.From China to Peru, we are morecarefully considering business outcomesand external impacts. Through ourproducts, we are continuously strivingto make consumers lives healthier,easier and richer. Through our actions,we are simultaneously working tosource responsibly, to conservethe natural resources on which ourproducts depend and to strengthenthe communities producing them.Our world faces unprecedentedchallenges. Today, almost 1 billion peoplelack sufficient food and the numberof hungry is likely to only increase.Current projections suggest the worldspopulation will reach 9 billion peopleby 2050. Essential natural resources especially water and arable land arealready under severe stress in parts ofthe planet, creating chronic challenges formillions. Producing enough food to feedan increasingly hungry world will requirenot only innovation and dedication, butalso careful attention to the impactof agriculture on our environment.In this, our 43rd year of reporting backto our communities and stakeholders,we have expanded the breadth anddepth of our reporting across fivekey focus areas: Health, Environment,Sourcing, Workplace and Community.We continue to make progress inadvancing our stated goals in these keyfocus areas. For example, in 2012, weagain improved the health profile ofGeneral Mills products around the world.We again decreased natural resourceconsumption in our operations andacross our global supply chain. We aremitigating water risk, and taking steps tomore sustainably source raw materials.Of course, we also continue to supportour employees with safe, ethical andinclusive workplaces. And we continueto nourish our communities throughphilanthropic and employee engagement.Were not alone in addressing theseglobal challenges. Were findingopportunities for collaboration withbusiness, government and NGOs onimportant systemic solutions. Wereworking with external partners and aresignatories on a number of key globalefforts, such as the United NationsGlobal Compact. And while wereproud of our progress, we also knowthere is still much more to be done.Thank you once again for yourinterest. As always, we welcomeyour questions and comments.Sincerely,Ken PowellChairman, Chief ExecutiveOfficer, General MillsAt General Mills, one of our goals is to stand among the most socially responsible foodcompanies in the world. In pursuit of this goal, we work to earn the trust of our consumers,customers, employees and other key stakeholders every day. Building and maintaining thistrust is essential to our business and to the fulfillment of our mission of Nourishing Lives.To our Stakeholders:WATCH VIDEO 4. General Mills Global Responsibility 02INTRODUCTIONOur valuesWe do theright thing,all the time.We innovatein every aspectof our business.We buildour greatbrands.We respect,develop and investin our people.We strive forconsistently superiorperformance.Everything we do reflects our strong core values, and we live these values every day:General Mills has been fulfilling our mission of Nourishing Lives making lives healthier, easier and richer for 146 years. 5. General Mills Global Responsibility 03Highlights650+General Mills productshave been nutritionallyimproved since weimplemented our HealthMetric in 2005.52%packaging volumehas been improvedsince 2009 exceedingour 2015 goal, whichwe have increased.50%palm oil will besustainably sourcedby the end of fiscalyear 2013.8countries honoredGeneral Mills withworkplace awards in2012, and 88 percent ofour U.S. employees saidthat General Mills is agreat place to work.86%increase in R&Dspending on health andwellness since 2004.10priority ingredientsrepresenting 50 percentof our annual purchasesare on the path toimproved sustainability.10or less grams of sugarin all General Millscereals marketedto children.84%solid waste diverted fromlandfills in 2012. Since2005, we have reducedour waste generationrate by 40 percent.$35 million+food products donatedto Feeding Americas 200food banks in 2012 (US$).$143million+donated to charitablecauses in 2012 GeneralMills has given more than$1 billion to charitablecauses worldwide since theGeneral Mills Foundationwas created in 1954 (US$). 6. General Mills Global Responsibility 04We produce and market morethan 100 consumer brands inmore than 100 countrieson six continents.$16.7billionGlobal net sales*$1.6 billionNet earnings*$143 millionCommunitycontributions34,500employeesAbout half work outsidethe United States100+consumer brandsOur many brands can befound in more than 100countries on six continents$4.2billionNet sales for ourInternationalbusiness segment*146yearsWe have beenmaking liveshealthier, easierand richer for morethan a century*Excludes $1.3 billion proportionate share of joint venture salesAll figures represent fiscal 2012 results and U.S. dollars. 7. General Mills Global Responsibility 05Climate change Climatechange poses serious risks forour planet. Governments, companies,organizations and individuals all needto take action to mitigate these risks.In the process of bringing food fromthe farm to the consumers table, themajority of greenhouse gas (GHG)emissions occur in agriculture and thepackaging supply chain. General Mills isreducing GHG emissions in our facilitiesand across our entire value chain.Water Water scarcity is agrowing problem around theworld. According to projections from theOrganisation for Economic Co-operationand Development (OECD), almosthalf of the worlds population couldbe living under severe water stress by2050. Agriculture is a major user ofwater resources and also contributesto water pollution: farming accountsfor approximately 70 percent of waterused in the world today. General Millsis addressing water use across ourvalue chain to improve sustainablemanagement of water resources.Waste Food waste createsfive times more methane inlandfills than packaging waste andmethane is a greenhouse gas 20 timesmore potent than carbon dioxide.Everyone across the food productionand consumption spectrum plays arole in reducing the amount of solidwaste. Efficiencies in productionplay a role as does the processing offood, which extends shelf life, and thepackaging of food in quantities thatmatch consumption to reduce waste.General Mills also works to reduce theenvironmental impact of our packaging.Environment reduce impactOpportunities and challengesAs one of the worlds largest food companies, we see the opportunity to help address some of the worlds most pressing challenges,including nutritional imbalances, natural resource scarcity and food insecurity.Nutrients More than15 percent of the globalpopulation today is undernourished.Fortified foods help deliver needednutrients. General Mills and other foodcompanies enrich foods with nutrients,such as vitamins, minerals and fiber.Reduction Many peoplearound the world consume toomany calories and too much fat, sugarand sodium. Consumers worldwide eatan average of 9 to 12 grams of salt aday up to twice the recommended dailylevel of 6 grams. General Mills and otherfood companies are reducing calories,fat, sugar and sodium in our products.Balance In more developedregions of the world, obesity isa major health issue. The World HealthOrganization reports that the numberof overweight children has tripled in thepast three decades, with rates holdingsteady since 2007. Making nutritiousfood choices and balancing food intakewith activity are keys to addressingthe obesity challenge. General Millshelps educate and empower peoplearound the world to live healthier lives.Health improve nutrition and increase activityMaking nutritious foodchoices and balancingfood intake with activityare key to addressingthe obesity challenge.According to OECDprojections, almost halfof the worlds populationcould be living under severewater stress by 2050. 8. General Mills Global Responsibility 06Grow In order to feed the9 billion people expected by2050, the world will need to produce70 percent more food. Doing so willrequire innovation and collaborationto increase yields sustainably oncurrently producing lands. Futureproduction increases must be achievedusing less water and less expensiveinputs to conserve resources.Research Higher yieldingcrops, including disease anddrought resistant varieties, will benecessary to sufficiently boost globalfood production. While biotechnologyholds promise to alleviate chronichunger and prevent disease, and toenhance sustainability, nutrition andtaste, the success of this technologywill continue to depend on its ability toachieve broad consumer acceptanceand support. Ingredients improvedthrough biotechnology have beenused for 15 years, yet some consumersremain opposed to biotechnology.As a consumer-focused company,General Mills tries to deliver whatconsumers want and need. For thatreason, products we produce forEurope do not use genetically modifiedingredients, and we offer our U.S.consumers leading brands of organicproducts as a non-GMO choice.Preserve One-third of thefood grown globally is wasted,according to the Food and AgricultureOrganization of the United Nations(FAO). Reducing food waste is critical tofeeding the worlds growing population.In the developing world, much of thewaste stems from inadequate foodstorage and transportation. In theUnited States, where as much as40 percent of food is wasted, morethan 90 percent of that waste occursat homes or in foodservice settings.Processing and packaging foodextends shelf life, thereby reducingwaste. General Mills strives topackage food in quantities that matchconsumption to reduce waste.Food security increase yields sustainably, reduce water use, reduce food wastePeople Workers in agricultureand food production aroundthe world deserve to be treated withdignity and respect in accordance withthe United Nations Global Compact andthe International Labour Organizations1998 Declaration on FundamentalPrinciples and Rights at Work. GeneralMills supports ethical standards andguidelines across our supply chain.Animals The humanetreatment of animals is anarea of concern within the agriculturalsupply chain. General Mills animalwelfare policy focuses on howanimals are raised and treated.agriculture To conservenatural resources, it is essentialto sustainably source ingredients thatbecome food and fiber that becomespackaging. General Mills pursuesincreased levels of sustainability in ourraw materials and promotes sustainableprocesses in our supply chain.Sourcing protect people, animals and the environmentTo conserve natural resources, it is essential tosustainably source ingredients that becomefood and fiber that becomes packaging.In order to feed the 9 billion peopleexpected by 2050, the world will needto produce 70 percent more food. 9. General Mills Global Responsibility 07The General Mills value chain includesour own operations as well as those ofour partners, such as farmers, millers,transporters and retailers. Our employeesas well as our suppliers, customers,consumers and other stakeholders play anessential role in helping to bring our missionto life and our products to consumers.Field to Table:Our Value ChainEnjoyingfoodn Makingn Eatingn Disposing1farming2 Transforming 3Converting6CONSUMING5 selling4ShippingMaking products fromfood ingredientsn Mixingn Cookingn PackagingGrowing cropsn Plantingn Tendingn HarvestingTurning crops intofood ingredientsn Cleaningn Millingn PreparingMaking food available for purchasen Stockingn Promotingn ShoppingMoving foodto storesn Packingn Transportingn Delivering 10. General Mills Global Responsibility 08We provide people withconvenient, nutritious foodthat when combined withexercise and activity can helpthem live healthier lives. Weimprove the health profile ofour products while meetingconsumer requirements fortaste. We educate consumersto promote better health,we support responsiblemarketing practices, and weadvance global food safety.Our goal is to continuallyreduce our environmentalfootprint. We focus our effortson areas where we can havethe greatest impact, bothwithin our own operationsand outside of them, primarilyin agriculture and ingredientproduction. Across our globaloperations, we work toreduce our natural resourceconsumption. And upstream,we focus on sustainablysourcing the raw materialswe use in our products.We conserve and protectresources by sustainablysourcing the raw materialswe use in our products. Wefocus on increasing thesustainability of the 10 priorityagricultural raw materialswe source, which representmore than 50 percent of ourannual purchases. We alsohelp improve the livelihoods ofsmallholder farmers, improveglobal water stewardship,improve supplier sustainabilityand respect human rightsin our supply chain.We foster a safe, ethical,diverse and inclusive workplacewhere employees can thrive.We respect, develop andinvest in our employees andcontinue to improve workplacesafety through our efforts toprevent injuries and illnesses.We support our employeesin being active, eatinghealthy and staying well.We nourish our communitiesglobally with remarkablephilanthropy. We work ininnovative ways with partnersat the global, national and locallevels to harness our collectiveimpact in key target areas,while engaging employeesthrough volunteerism. Wefocus on alleviating hunger andadvancing nutrition wellness,improving education, andstrengthening communities.Health CommunityWorkplaceSourcingEnvironmentResponsible practices areat the core of our missionand business strategy. 11. General Mills Global Responsibility 09Ethics and complianceOur Code of Conduct for employeesreflects our value, Do the right thing, allthe time. We have high expectationsfor ethical conduct in every aspect of ourbusiness. General Mills global reputationas an ethical company depends on eachemployee always acting consistentlywith the law, our policies and our values.General Mills employees receive a Codeof Conduct that outlines our ethicalexpectations and provides practical tipsand examples for how to act with integrityin every decision, every action, every day.OrganizationalresponsibilityThe General Mills leadership team hasultimate responsibility for the companyscorporate social responsibility. The teamincludes: Ken Powell, chairman and CEO;Kim Nelson, senior vice president ofExternal Relations and president of theGeneral Mills Foundation; Jerry Lynch,chief sustainability officer; and JohnChurch, senior vice president of SupplyChain; as well as our Board of DirectorsPublic Responsibility Committee.StakeholderengagementWe solicit input from groups like Ceres(a coalition of investors, environmentalorganizations and other public interestgroups working with companies toadvance their environmental andsocial performance) to ensure weaddress issues of concern to them.We are active members in key industrycoalitions such as the Consumer GoodsForum, Grocery Manufacturers ofAmerica, and Field to Market. We partnerwith nongovernmental organizations(NGOs) such as the World WildlifeFund and The Nature Conservancy onenvironmental matters. We have beenparticipants in the Carbon DisclosureProject (CDP) since its inception in 2000and are members of the Roundtable onSustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). As part ofour commitment to supporting humanrights in our supply chain, we are leadersin the AIM-PROGRESS ResponsibleSourcing task force, and are signatoriesto the United Nations Global Compact(UNGC). In addition, we are guided bythe International Labour Organizations(ILO) 1998 Declaration on FundamentalPrinciples and Rights at Work. Withregards to nutrition, we work with severalorganizations including the AmericanAcademy of Family Physicians (AAFP)and the Academy of Nutrition andDietetics to fund nutrition research andhelp promote nutrition education.Public policyIn addition to this engagement, wealso recognize the importance ofaccountability and transparency regardingour public policy engagement andpolitical contributions. Our civic policydescribes our approval process for usingcorporate funds for political contributions.The Public Responsibility Committeeof our Board of Directors oversees thecompanys political activity, including ourpolicy, an annual list of corporate politicalcontributions, major trade associationmemberships, and any independentpolitical expenditures (although thecompany has not made any). A list of ourpolitical contributions is made availableon our website. We have been publiclydisclosing this information since 2005.In 2012, we increased the disclosureof information we provide about ourpublic policy engagement. In 2012,the Center for Political Accountabilitygave General Mills a positive rankingusing its accountability metric.ApproachReport scopeIncreasing transparencyIn this years report, we have expandedfrom three to five key focus areas: Health,Environment, Sourcing, Workplaceand Community. Our decision toelevate Sourcing and Workplaceas independent sections is basedon our own assessment as well asstakeholder input on material topics.For the second year, we have utilizedGlobal Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3.1Guidelines to help inform our reportingscope and content. We expanded thenumber of GRI Indicators includedin this years report includingFood Processing Sector Supplementindicators. Our report is undeclaredand is not externally assured.Scope and responsibilityOur progress on key metrics is reportedfor fiscal 2012. We also includeinformation about some of our morerecent activities to illustrate progresson newer initiatives. The report scopeincludes global operations exceptwhere otherwise noted. Because moredata is available, the report providescomparatively more data about our U.S.operations, the largest segment of ourbusiness. Key metrics do not reflectrecent acquisitions our controllinginterest in Yoplait S.A.S. to market Yoplaityogurt around the world and the fiscal2013 acquisition of Yoki Alimentos S.A.The General Mills leadership team,noted above, has responsibility forthe development of this report. 12. Our strategiesProvidenutritiousfoodsEducateconsumersAdvanceglobal foodsafetyHEALTHAt General Mills, our mission isNourishing Lives making liveshealthier, easier and richer.Our goal is to provide people withconvenient, nutritious food that when combined with exercise andactivity can help them live healthierlives. We believe that a variety ofconvenient foods plays an importantrole in peoples diets, providingnutritious, tasty choices at a reasonablecost. A healthy product portfolio isa fundamental part of our businessstrategy, and we continue to improvethe health profile of our products. 13. Measuring progress: our Health Metric General Mills is committed to improving the health profile of our products while meeting consumerrequirements for taste. Since 2005, we have tracked and quantified health profile improvements using the General Mills Health Metric. This tool isoverseen by the General Mills Health and Wellness Council and our Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition. Our Health Metric enables us to measureprogress against our product improvement goals. We have improved the nutrition profile of more than 650 General Mills products in the U.S.since 2005 in one or more of the following ways (for more detailed goals and results, see page 15):Health Environment Sourcing Workplace CommunityPerformance dashboardProduct improvement guidelinesIncreasingReducing FormulatingFormulating new products or reformulating existingproducts to meet specific internal requirements,including limiting calories, and meeting healthor nutrition claim criteria as defined by theU.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Increasing beneficial nutrients includingvitamins, minerals and fiber by 10 percentor more and formulating products to includeat least a half-serving of whole grain, fruit,vegetables, or low or nonfat dairy.Reducing calories, fat,saturated fat, trans fat,sugar or sodium by10 percent or more.Our approach: invest & innovateOverviewOur investment includes researchconducted by our own Bell Institute ofHealth and Nutrition scientists as well asby scientists outside General Mills. Withbackgrounds in nutrition science, publichealth, clinical nutrition and food science,Bell Institute of Health and Nutritionexperts are a valuable resource for thebusiness teams at General Mills, as wellas for health professionals around the U.S.In fiscal 2012, the Bell Institute of Healthand Nutrition distributed more than 2.8million consumer nutrition educationmaterials to health professionals.Within our business units, we invest inresearch and development (R&D) to helpimprove the health profile of our products.Since 2004, weve increased R&D spendingon health and wellness by 86 percent. InMay 2012, we realigned our Innovation,Technology & Quality (ITQ) organizationto increase the speed of innovation, investin technologies that support multiplebusinesses and leverage our R&D andQuality capabilities around the world.We invest in nutrition science to better understand the relationship between food and health as we enhance our product portfolio$86%Since 2004, weveincreased R&D spendingon health and wellnessby 86 percent.General Mills Global Responsibility 11 14. Health Environment Sourcing Workplace CommunityWe also enhance and accelerate ourinnovation efforts by teaming up withworld-class innovators from outsideof the company. Through the GeneralMills Worldwide Innovation Network(G-WIN), we actively seek externalpartners who can help us deliverinnovation in products, packaging,processes, ingredients and technologies.We are growing our portfolio throughacquisitions that meet consumer demandfor health, taste and convenience. GeneralMills has licensed the Yoplait brandfrom Yoplait since 1977 and operates theU.S. Yoplait business, which holds theNo. 1 brand position in the U.S. yogurtcategory. In fiscal 2012, we completedour acquisition of a 51 percent controllinginterest in Yoplait S.A.S., and a 50 percentinterest in a related entity that holdsthe worldwide Yoplait brands. Yoplait isthe second-largest brand in the globalyogurt market. Consumer demandfor yogurt is growing in response toincreased interest in foods that emphasizeconvenience, flavor variety, value andnutrition. Yogurt is a nutrient-densefood that provides protein, calcium,potassium, vitamin D and other nutrients.In 2012, we expanded our portfolio byacquiring the Food Should Taste Goodnatural snack food business. FoodShould Taste Good is the latest additionto our Small Planet Foods natural andorganic products business, joining thedivisions category-leading CascadianFarm, Muir Glen, and LRABAR brands.In India, we acquired the ParamparaFoods business, which offers consumersthe convenience of ready-to-cook spiceblends made with natural ingredients, suchas herbs, spices, onions and sunfloweroil, to deliver authentic Indian flavors.Leadership andgovernanceOur commitment to offering nutritiousfoods extends across the company.Operationally, product responsibilitylies within the R&D and Marketingorganizations. Responsibility for consumerhealth and safety, and product andservice labeling is held by the Senior VicePresident of Supply Chain, Senior VicePresident of Innovation, Technology andQuality. Responsibility for MarketingCommunications is held by the ChiefMarketing Officer. The Board PublicResponsibility Committee oversees thecompanys health and wellness strategy.r In fiscal 2012, we expanded ourinterest in Yoplait worldwide and acquiredFood Should Taste Good natural snackfoods and Parampara spice mixes.Educate consumersA Promoting better healthB Supporting responsible marketingAdvance global food safetyA Adhering to strict food safety processesB Partnering to increase food safetyOur strategies and actionsp.13p.21p.24Provide nutritious foodA Delivering nutrition to millions of consumersB Improving product health profilesC Offering nutritious new products123General Mills Global Responsibility 12 15. Health Environment Sourcing Workplace CommunityDelivering nutrition to millions of consumersProvide nutritious food11AGeneral Mills impactKey nutrients and food groupsGeneral Mills offers nearly 40 innovative, fiber-addedproducts everything from cereal and bars to pancakes underits category-leading Fiber One brand. According to the U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of key nutrients like iron andfolate for kids ages 4-12. Our cereals advertised to childrenare fortified with calcium, iron, vitamin D and B vitamins.In 2012, our U.S. operations shipped more than 15 billion servings of whole grain annually. That adds up to more than40 million servings of whole grain each day (1 serving = 16 grams) 35 million of those servings from our Big G cereals.Per capita cereal consumption is growing in markets around the world. Since 2003, our Cereal Partners Worldwidejoint venture with Nestl has increased global consumption of whole grain by more than 3.4 billion servings.Cereal and Snack BarsVegetablesAmericans get as much as 30 percent of their daily fiber and50 percent of their daily vitamin C from frozen, canned and dry fruitsand vegetables. According to research by the University of California,Davis, frozen vegetables are as nutritious as their fresh counterparts.Green Giant vegetables are picked at the peak of perfection, packedand frozen to lock in naturally occurring nutrients.CerealGeneral Mills has been a pioneer in fortifying cereals. Today, allBig G kid cereals are fortified with vitamin D and calcium. AJuly 2012 study funded by the General Mills Bell Institute ofHealth and Nutrition, and published in The Journal of FoodScience, shows that vitamin D fortified cereal is one of the top10 food sources of vitamin D for those in the United States.Yogurt provides protein, calcium, potassium and other importantnutrients. Yoplait Original contains 20 percent of the Daily Valueof calcium and vitamin D in each cup. Research indicates thatwomen who regularly eat yogurt have a healthier body weight,smaller waist size and consume more essential nutrients.Yogurt CerealOur portfolio offers a broad array of great-tasting products that boost nutrient intakeSince the 1940s, General Mills has been an industry leader in enriching foods with nutrients in the United States. Research shows that enriched and fortified foods make a substantial contributionto the nutrient intakes of Americans. Around the world, more than 18,400 servings of Yoplait dairy products are eaten every minute, providing consumers with calcium and vitamin D.Most Americans arent getting enough calcium or vitamin D in their diets. Nearly nine outof 10 American kids dont get enough vitamin D, and about four out of 10 dont get enoughcalcium. Sixty percent of women dont get the calcium they need for healthy bones and teeth.Percentage of people who are not getting enough calcium or vitamin DAge groupsCalciumVitamin D2-5 years 16% 86%6-12 years 43% 94%13-18 years 53% 92%19-50 years 26% 96%51+ years 55% 94%Calcium & Vitamin DNine out of 10 Americans arent getting enough whole grain. Most Americansare barely eating one serving of whole grain a day. Research shows that eatingenough whole grains, as part of a healthy diet, can help with heart health, weightmanagement and diabetes management and reduce the risk of certain cancers.Whole grainDietary fiber is important to digestive health and may also help curbhunger. Some research suggests that people who have a higherintake of fiber also tend to have a healthier body weight.Fiber, Iron, Vitamin C, B VitaminsGeneral Mills Global Responsibility 13 16. Health Environment Sourcing Workplace CommunityCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Center for Health Statistics(NCHS). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data. Hyattsville, MD: U.S.Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Percent of selected nutrients provided byready-to-eat cereal, children age 4-12Calories Vitamin A Thiamin Niacin Vitamin B6 Folate Iron Zinc3%13%17%15%20%30%23%14%Whole grain Vegetables Dairy FiberGeneral Mills has a long history of providing convenient, affordable, nutritious foods to help consumers meet key health and nutrition recommendations. In fiscal 2012,General Mills U.S. retail operations shipped billions of grams of whole grain and dietary fiber and billions of servings of vegetables and dairy, detailed below.240 billion grams of whole grain 1 billion servings of vegetables(1 serving = 1/2 cup)2.3 billion servings of low/nonfat dairy (1 serving = 1 cup)55 billion grams of dietary fiberBenefits of cereal1Albertson AM et al. Ready-to-eat cereal consumption: Its relationship with BMI and nutrientintake of children aged 4 to 12 years. J Am Diet Assoc 2003;103:1613-1619.2Cho S et al. The effect of breakfast type on total daily energy intake and body mass index: Results from theThird National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). J Am Coll Nutr 2003;22(4):296-302.3Barton BA et al. The relationship of breakfast and cereal consumption to nutrient intake and body mass index:The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study. J Am Diet Assoc 2005;105:1383-1389.Health benefits for adultsHealth benefits for childrenadults (ages 19-64)n Adults who consumed more than 7 servings of ready-to-eat cereal in a 2-weekperiod had lower BMIs than those who ate cereal less frequently.n Frequent cereal eaters were less likely to be overweight or obese, compared to those who ate cereal lessfrequently, and had nutrient intakes that aligned more closely with national dietary recommendations.n Ready-to-eat cereal consumption is related to improved nutrient intakes. Ready-to-eatcereal consumption is related to improved nutrient intakes in American adults.Learn more about the benefits of cereal.A research1study conducted in 2012 and funded by the Bell Institute of Health and Nutritionexamined the relationship between ready-to-eat cereal consumption and BMI, nutrientintake and whole grain intake among American adults. Key findings include:n Studies have shown that children and adolescents who eat a ready-to-eatcereal breakfast have a lower Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumferencethan those who dont eat cereal at breakfast or who skip breakfast.1, 2n Girls who eat cereal are less likely to become overweight as young adults than non-cereal eaters.3n A serving of cereal with milk costs about 50 cents on average, making cereal aninexpensive and efficient way to get important vitamins and minerals.Cereal provides key nutrients for childrenGeneral Mills Global Responsibility 14 17. Health Environment Sourcing Workplace CommunityImproving product health profilesAround the world, we are making progresstoward our healthier product commitments.General Mills has improved the healthprofile of 68 percent of our U.S. retailsales volume since we began tracking andquantifying health improvements in 2005.In fiscal 2012 alone, we improved nearly16 percent of our U.S. retail sales volume.Improvements include adding wholegrains, fiber and calcium, and reducingcalories, sugar, sodium and trans fat.In the U.K., we have removedartificial trans fat from foods, andwe are proceeding with our sodiumreduction program as part of ourpledge associated with the ResponsibilityDeal, a set of voluntary agreementscovering food, physical activity andhealth at work that is backed by theU.K.s Department of Health.In Australia, we joined the AustralianFood and Grocery Council and otherfood companies to launch the HealthierAustralia Commitment in October 2012. Insupport of this commitment, General Millsand the other companies have pledgedto collectively deliver on targets thatinclude reducing sodium by 25 percentand reducing energy (as measured bykilojoules to address calorie consumption)by 12.5 percent by 2015. The commitmentalso includes educating consumers aboutbalanced diets and healthy, active lifestylesand promoting employee wellness.In Canada, we began a strategic processto address nutritional improvements toour product portfolio in 2010. During thefirst two years of this initiative, more than30 percent of our retail product portfolioin Canada was nutritionally improved orlaunched with a strong nutrition profile. Infiscal 2012 alone, more than 25 percentof retail volume in Canada qualifiedfor our health improved criteria, withIncreasing nutrients in key food groups while reducing sugar, sodium, fat and caloriesFY0516%FY0621%FY0733%FY0840%FY0945%FY10 FY11 FY1260% 64% 68%Percent Nutritional Improvement(U.S. retail sales volume)Tracking health improvementsWholegrainTransfatSugar Sodium CaloriesU.S.Remove trans fatU.K.Remove trans fatU.S.Reduce sodium by20 percent across top 10product categories by 2015U.K.Reduce sodium in food, helpingconsumers get closer to the2.4 grams per day maximumrecommended daily intakeU.S.Reduce sugar in kidscereals to single-digitlevels per servingU.S.Increase whole grain:Every Big G cereal nowhas more whole grainthan any other singleingredient and containsat least 10 grams ofwhole grain per serving;more than 20 GeneralMills cereals deliverat least 16 gramsU.S.Reduce calories:Currently more than500 U.S. retail productswith 100 calories orless per serving;and more than 800 U.S.retail products with 150calories or less per servingAchieved goalKey to indicators: In progressor more of ourU.S. products havebeen nutritionallyimproved since2005.6501BGeneral Mills Global Responsibility 15 18. Health Environment Sourcing Workplace Communitymeaningful increases in nutrients targetedfor increased consumption or decreasesin nutrients that are over-consumedin the Canadian population. We areanticipating similar achievements infiscal 2013 to help improve diet qualityin Canada in areas such as whole grain,fiber, sodium and heart-healthier fats.PR1, FP6, FP7Boosting whole grainsResearch shows that eating wholegrains as part of a healthy diet canhelp improve heart health, weightmanagement and diabetes managementwhile reducing the risk of some cancers.The USDA 2010 Dietary Guidelines forAmericans advise people to eat at leasthalf of all grains as whole grains andchoose products that name a wholegrain ingredient first on the label. In2012, General Mills reached a multiyearreformulation milestone across its portfolioof Big G cereals to ensure that every Big Gcereal now has more whole grain thanany other single ingredient. All Big Gcereals now contain at least 10 grams ofwhole grain per serving, and more than20 General Mills cereals deliver at least16 grams. This whole grain innovationwas accomplished while delivering thesame great taste consumers expect.All global cereal brands offered by ourCPW joint venture with Nestl now haveat least 8 grams of whole grain per serving.CPW which makes and markets cerealssuch as Fitness, Cheerios, Chocapicand Nesquik globally outside NorthAmerica is the second-largest cerealprovider in the world. CPW is workingto increase levels of whole grain so it isthe main ingredient in all CPW cereals.WATCH VIDEOr Watch The Benefits of WholeGrains one of five videos focusingon making half your grains whole. Thevideos were produced by the GeneralMills Bell Institute of Health andNutrition and other partners committedto promoting and supporting grains incollaboration with the USDA Centerfor Nutrition Policy and Promotion.Learn more aboutwhole grainss Our Pillsbury Chakki Fresh Atta is made with 100 percent whole grain wheat, providing fiber,iron and essential nutrients. Product information helps build customer awareness of the nutritionalvalue of whole grains.All Big G cerealsnow contain at least10 grams of wholegrain per serving.10gramsIn India, our PillsburyAtta with Multigrainscombines seven naturalgrains wheat, soy, oats,maize, ragi, chana daland barley with addediron, calcium and protein.General Mills Global Responsibility 16 19. Health Environment Sourcing Workplace CommunityOur Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW) jointventure with Nestl makes and marketscereals under the Nestl brand globally outsideNorth America. CPW announced specificcommitments in October 2012 to nutritionallyimprove about 5.3 billion portions of breakfastcereals in more than 140 countries.CPW is working to reduce the sugar content of20 Nestl breakfast cereal brands popular withchildren and teenagers to 9 grams or lessper serving by the end of 2015. The changesmean that Nestlbreakfast cereals willhave a sugar reductionof up to 30 percentacross brands includingNesquik, Chocapic,Honey Cheeriosand Milo. In addition, CPW is making othernutritional improvements, including increasingcalcium to at least15 percent of therecommended dailyallowance (whichvaries in differentparts of the world)and reducing thesodium content of 20 breakfast cerealspopular with children and teenagers to135 mg or less per serving by the end of2015. Since 2003, CPW has removed morethan 9,000 tonnes of sugar and almost 900tonnes of salt from its recipes, while addingmore than 3.4 billion servings of whole grain.Cereals at single-digit sugar levelsReducing sugarGeneral Mills continues to reducesugar across our global productportfolio. For example, in 2009the company announced it wouldreduce sugar in all of its cerealsadvertised to children under age12 to single-digit grams of sugarper serving. Today, all GeneralMills cereals marketed to childrenare at 10 grams of sugar or lessper serving. Four varieties ofthese cereals, including HoneyNut Cheerios and CinnamonToast Crunch, contain 9 gramsof sugar per serving, down from11 to 15 grams of sugar in 2007.General Mills also has beenworking since 2004 in theU.S. to lower the sugar in ouryogurts advertised to childrenunder age 12. Since 2007, wevelowered the average sugar levelin Yoplait kid yogurts by morethan 21 percent and continue toimprove the nutrition profile ofour products while striving tomeet consumer taste preferences.KEY2012 Sugar level2007 Sugar level13g 13g07 0712 1210g 10g13g0713g07 1210g12g07 1210g12 12121212g 12g12g07 07079g 9g9g9gCereal Partners Worldwide nutritional improvements9g4g0g5g6g9g 9g6g3g9g2g3g1g9gGeneral Mills Global Responsibility 17 20. Health Environment Sourcing Workplace CommunityReducing sodiumGeneral Mills has a broad commitmentto reducing sodium in our products whilemeeting consumer taste requirements.Around the world, consumers eat anaverage of 9 to 12 grams of salt a day.Many health authorities recommendreducing this level to around 6 grams orabout a teaspoonful a day. GeneralMills has steadily reduced sodium in ourproduct portfolio in many parts of theworld. We have a team of researchersdedicated to reducing sodium infoods through gradual reductions.In the U.S., General Mills committedin 2008 to trim sodium, on average, by20 percent in our top 10 categories by 2015.We are on track to meet this ambitious,industry-leading sodium reduction effort.This effort affects a significant portion ofour portfolio products from snacks tosoups to side dishes. General Mills hasmade strong progress toward this goal withsodium reductions in fiscal 2012 acrossour product portfolio. In 2012, our ready-to-serve soup categoryachieved more than20 percent sodiumreduction four yearsahead of schedule. Wealso reduced sodiumby 30 percent or more in several ChexMix varieties and made significant stridesin other product categories, such as drydinners, canned vegetables, frozen pizzaand refrigerated dough. In fiscal 2012,General Mills had 1,641 U.S. retail SKUswith 480 mg or less sodium per serving.In the U.K., we have pledged as part ofthe Responsibility Deal to reduce salt infood helping consumers get closer tothe 6 grams of salt per day (2.4 grams ofsodium) maximum recommended dailyintake. Our sodium reduction programis aligned to the U.K. Department ofHealth targets. Acceptable technicalsolutions have been identified for someproduct categories, enabling us to speedup reformulation activities. We continueto seek additional sodium reductionsin our remaining product categories.We also have implemented nutritionstandards for each brand to ensure thatsodium levels are a key considerationwhen developing new products.In Australia, we also have been reducingsodium in our portfolio, including ourOld El Paso products. These reductions helplay the foundation for our progress towardthe collective industry goal of reducingsodium by 25 percent by 2015 as part ofthe Healthier Australia Commitment.r In 2012, our ready-to-serve soup categoryachieved more than a 20 percent sodiumreduction four years ahead of schedule. Wealso reduced sodium by 10 percent in a numberof Hamburger Helper dinners along with otherproducts in the meals category.r For the past five years, Green Giant has made consistent, steadysodium reductions across our range of vegetable products in Europe.In Sweden and Norway, we apply the keyhole symbol on our packagingto highlight healthier options in the canned vegetable category.v Green Giant islowering the salt in itscanned vegetables by5 to 35 percent acrossEurope, Russia, Africaand the Middle East.This sodium reductioneffort has alreadybeen implemented in90 percent of GreenGiant products including sweet corn,artichokes and heartsof palm in thesemarkets.In the U.S., General Mills hascommitted to trim sodium,on average, by 20 percent inour top 10 categories by 2015.20%Sodiumg/100g0.300.250.200.150.100.050.00Pack2009Pack2008Pack2010Pack2011Pack2012Pack2013Pack2014Standard (UK, FR, MENA, BENIT, RU, ASIA)Low salt (SP, NO)No salt (UK, FR, SP, MENA)Sodium reduction cornGeneral Mills Global Responsibility 18 21. Health Environment Sourcing Workplace CommunityReducing trans fatIn recent years, General Mills hassuccessfully reformulated a number ofproducts to reduce trans fat, achievingtrans fat reductions in more than 150 ofour U.S. retail products since 2005. In fiscal2012, General Mills continued to removetrans fat by reformulating additionalPillsbury biscuits and crescents allPillsbury refrigerated biscuits and crescentsnow have zero grams labeled trans fat.In the U.K., we have achieved our goalof removing trans fat from partiallyhydrogenated oils in our products,meeting the trans fat eliminationtarget of the U.K. Responsibility Dealpledge. In addition to these ingredientselection and reformulation efforts, wehave put in place nutrition standardsensuring continued absence of transfat from our products in the U.K. r Our Old El Paso line of products in Europehas achieved a 39 percent saturated fatreduction and 43 percent total fat reduction.Reformulating productsWe continually reformulate our productsto meet consumer preferences and offerhealthier options. For example, in thesummer of 2012, we modified severalvarieties of our Yoplait yogurt. We removedhigh fructose corn syrup from our OriginalStyle Yoplait, Yoplait Light, Light Thick &Creamy and Yoplait Lactose-Free (alongwith our new Fruplait and Simplait yogurtoptions). We also added more fruit toour yogurt varieties that contain piecesof fruit, reduced the calories in YoplaitLight to 90 per serving, and switched tonatural colors, flavors and sweetenersin Original Style Yoplait. In addition, weredesigned our packaging (read moreabout our Yoplait packaging reductions inthe Environment section of this report).We modified Yoplait Lightso it now contains 90 calories 10 less calories than theprevious formulation as well as zero grams offat and 20 percent of therecommended Daily Valueof calcium and vitamin D.Yoplait Light is the onlylight yogurt endorsedby Weight Watchers.WATCH VIDEOr We listened and responded tocustomer feedback about Yoplait yogurt.r In the U.S., all Pillsbury flaky refrigeratedbiscuits now have zero grams labeledtrans fat. Many varieties of these biscuitshave lowered calories as well.At General Mills we are committed to continuous health improvements. We alsoknow that food is absolutely not nutritious unless people are eating it. The win ininnovation is in providing healthier products that are affordable and taste great. Maha Tahiri, Senior Technical Director, General Mills Bell Institute of Health and NutritionYoplait, Simplait and Fruiplait are trademarks of YOPLAIT MARQUES (France) used under license.General Mills Global Responsibility 19 22. Health Environment Sourcing Workplace CommunityModifying school mealsGeneral Mills also is responding tochanging U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) standards for K-12 schoolmeals, which include increasing fruitsand vegetables, serving items with zerograms of trans fat and meeting wholegrain requirements. Under the newstandards, school meals also must meetspecific calorie ranges and sodium targets.The new requirements apply to schoollunches during the 2012/13 school year,while the majority of changes to schoolbreakfasts take effect beginning July 2013.General Mills is well-positioned to meetthese new requirements while continuingto provide items that offer easy menuplanning and preparation. Already, we have70 products that meet the USDA wholegrain criteria, a full portfolio of productswith zero grams trans fat that can be servedthroughout the school meal program. Wealso have convenient breakfast items such as Pillsbury Mini Pancakes, MiniWaffles and the new Pillsbury SunriseFlatbread that provide schools a quickway to serve hot breakfast favoriteswhile meeting the new requirements.Offering nutritious new productsGeneral Mills continues to provideconsumers with healthful newproduct options. In fiscal 2012,new products such as FiberOne 90 Calorie Brownies, MultiGrain Cheerios Peanut Butterand Nature Valley Protein bars generated 5 percent of GeneralMills U.S. retail segment sales.Green Giant SeasonedSteamers frozenvegetables in sixvarieties are madewith seasoningblends includingrosemary, oregano,honey and parsley thatboost flavor withoutadded sauces.Yoplait Greek 100 hastwo times the proteinof regular yogurt with100 calories. YoplaitGreek 100 is the onlyGreek yogurt endorsedby Weight Watchers.Cascadian FarmAncient Grains Granolaorganic cereal combinesquinoa, spelt and kamutkhorasan wheat withgranola, providing anexcellent source offiber with 5 grams ofprotein and 35 gramsof whole grain.LRABAR ber sweetand salty Fruit & Nutbars are gluten-free andcontain 9 ingredients.Gluten Free AppleCinnamon Chex cerealhas 10 grams of wholegrain per serving and noartificial colors or flavors.Yoplait LactoseFree yogurt provides20 percent of theDaily Value of calciumand vitamin D.Striving to offer products with more whole grain, more calcium, more vegetables and fruit, reduced sodium, less fat, fewer caloriesNew options for limited dietss Fiber One 90 Calorie Browniesprovide 20 percent of therecommended Daily Value of fiberwith 5 grams of fiber per serving.r General Mills products help schools serve meals that meet new USDA requirements.Nutritious new productsOur summer 2012 product launches included:General Mills continued to expand our offerings of gluten-free and lactose-free products, making it easier for consumersto find the nutrition attributes they seek, including:General Mills offers more than 300 gluten-freeproducts, including gluten-free versions ofBetty Crocker dessert mixes and frostings, agluten-free version of Bisquick pancake andbaking mix, and five varieties of Chex cereals.1CGeneral Mills Global Responsibility 20 23. Health Environment Sourcing Workplace CommunityEducate consumers2Promoting better healthGeneral Mills believes that in additionto delivering a range of healthful andbetter-for-you products, we also canhelp to raise awareness about theimportance of achieving a balance of goodnutrition and physical activity throughhealthy lifestyle choices. In the U.S., wesponsor Champions for Healthy Kids, aprogram promoting healthy nutritionand fitness for Americas youth (learnmore in the Community section).In 2012, we joined in a strategic partnershipwith the USDA Center for Nutrition Policyand Promotion to help promote dietaryguidelines for Americans. As part of thiscombined effort between governmentand industry to promote nutrition inthe context of the Dietary Guidelinesfor Americans 2010, our Bell Institute ofHealth and Nutrition helped equip healthprofessionals with information aboutthe latest science and practical nutritiontips. Learn more at ChooseMyPlate.gov.General Mills also is a member ofthe Healthy Weight CommitmentFoundation, an industry-led coalition ofmore than 200 organizations focusedon combating childhood obesity.PR4, FP8Encouragingconsumption of fruitsand vegetablesAcross Europe and the U.S., General Millsis helping promote consumption of fruitsand vegetables. Our campaign to leveragethe popularity of the Jolly Green Giant toencourage families to eat more vegetableshas expanded from the U.K. and Franceto the U.S. In France, we help promote theProgramme National Nutrition Sant withthe 5 par jour (5 a day) message online,on product packaging and in stores. Inthe U.K., General Mills supports the U.K.Department of Healths Fruit and Vegetablepledge as part of the Responsibility Dealthrough media campaigns and onlineefforts promoting the 5 a day message,including providing recipe ideas andpromotion of healthy lifestyle habits.PR4, FP8Educating consumers around the world about nutrition and fitnesss In October 2012, kids interacted with a virtual Jolly Green Giant during an event atNew York Citys Grand Central Terminal promoting the nutritional benefits of eating vegetables.r OurGreen Giant campaign promotesvegetable consumption in France.2AAt General Mills, we notonly provide consumerswith a range of healthfulproducts we also helpraise awareness about theimportance of making healthylifestyle choices. Through ourChampions for Healthy Kidsprogram, our participationin the Healthy WeightCommitment Foundation andother partnerships, we areworking to promote overallhealth by balancing goodnutrition and physical activity. Kim Nelson, General Mills SeniorVice President, External Relations andPresident, General Mills FoundationGeneral Mills Global Responsibility 21 24. Health Environment Sourcing Workplace CommunityCombining nutritionand fitnessGeneral Mills supports online resourcesthat help consumers make more healthychoices about nutrition and exercise. In theU.K., we promote physical activity throughour Nature Valley brand in partnershipwith Walk for Life, part of the Change4Lifemovement that encourages families andadults to eat well, move more and livelonger by making small lifestyle changesthat add up to big health benefits. OurU.K. Nature Valley website now featuresdetails of more than 2,000 free walksand fitness insights consistent withour brand and our participation in theU.K. Responsibility Deal pledge. NatureValley promotes healthy, active lifestylesfueled by whole grain consumption.In Australia and in the U.S.,we support TogetherCounts, an online programpromoting energy balance.Launched in the U.S. by theHealthy Weight Commitment Foundationto help reduce obesity particularlyamong kids by 2015, Together Countsis now being used as part of the HealthierAustralia Commitment as well. TogetherCounts encourages families to eat andexercise together regularly to achievehealthy weight through energy balance matching calories in with calories out. In theU.S., we also support EatBetterEarly.com(featuring recipes, nutrition tips, cookingtips, and information about whole grains)and LiveBetterAmerica.com (featuringrecipes, tips for healthy living, Food 101glossary of fruits and vegetables, couponsand a blog from a range of contributors).PR4, FP8Communicatingnutrition informationon packagingGeneral Mills product packaging providesclear nutrition information for consumers.U.S.: Currently, more than half of our U.S.products feature front-of-package labelingand, by early 2014, all of them will. TheNutrition Keys are a set of standardicons including information about calories,saturated fat, sodium and total sugars designed to make it easier for consumers tomake informed food choices in the groceryaisle. All of our Big G cereal boxes alsodisplay grams of whole grain per servingso consumers can see how cereal helpsthem meet dietary recommendations.We were also the first to use a containstatement to highlight allergen informationboldly on our product information panels.Canada: In Canada, we participate in theNutrition Facts Education Campaign, acollaboration between Food & ConsumerProducts of Canada and Health Canadathat has helped increase consumerawareness and use of the % Daily Value,a component in the Nutrition Facts table.Europe: In Europe, we joined 11 otherleading food and beverage manufacturersin November 2012 in reaffirming ourcommitment to harmonized front-of-packnutrition labeling across all markets in theEuropean Union (EU). The commitmentwill ensure that consumers have accessto consistent, meaningful nutritionalinformation on products, includingcontinuing to display calorie information onthe front of packages. Currently, 92 percentof our products across all EU marketsfeature Nutrition Keys printed on thepackaging. We began this labeling in 2008.FP8r Within six months after its launch, 78 percentof the more than 90,000 visitors to the NatureValley U.K. website viewed informationabout local walks.Nature Valley promoteshealthy, active lifestylesfueled by whole grainconsumption.r InEurope,92percentofourproductsfeatureNutritionKeysonthepackaging.Calories1126%Sugars2,5g3%Fat0,3g