General Mills Among 2009 ‘World’s Most Ethical Companies’

Award from Ethisphere Institute Recognizes Sustained Ethical Leadership

General Mills announced that it has been named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” by the Ethisphere Institute. General Mills earned a coveted place on the list for the second year in a row by demonstrating industry-leading ethical business practices.

“This outstanding honor validates our strong commitment to ethics and integrity in every aspect of our business,” said Rick Palmore, executive vice president, general counsel and chief compliance & risk management officer of General Mills. “Around the world, we work hard to build trust and to create an environment that invites employee candor and engagement.”

General Mills recently released its annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report, which outlines the company’s goal of becoming one of the most socially responsible consumer food companies in the world. Specific examples of General Mills’ ethical business practices and programs can be found in the report.

“General Mills has proven to be one of the world leaders in upholding high ethical standards, making it a true standout in its industry, especially as unethical business actions and decisions grab headlines each day,” said Alex Brigham, executive director of the Ethisphere Institute.

Through a rigorous, multi-step evaluation process, the Ethisphere Institute’s researchers reviewed more than 10,000 companies in order to determine the finalists. The researchers evaluated the companies on their codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; efforts to improve corporate citizenship; nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers; and feedback from consumer action groups. The results appear in Ethisphere magazine’s first-quarter issue and can also be viewed online.

This recognition by the Ethisphere Institute follows several other honors given to General Mills in the past year, including ranking No. 2 on Corporate Social Responsibility Officer magazine’s “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list and among the top 50 on FORTUNE magazine’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list.

About General Mills
One of the world’s leading food companies, General Mills operates in over 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., General Mills had fiscal 2008 global net sales of US$14.9 billion, including the company’s $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales. Visit www.generalmills.com.