General Mills to Remove Smart Choices Symbol

10/27/2009

General Mills said today the company will remove the Smart Choices symbol from future packaging.

Only three General Mills products – Cheerios, Fiber One bars and Green Giant vegetables – use the Smart Choices symbol.  General Mills said the symbol would be removed from packaging for all three products as new packaging is produced. 

Separately, General Mills said it continues to support the development of a simple, uniform front-of-pack labeling program that could promote informed food choices and help consumers make healthier diet decisions.  With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s renewed interest in developing uniform front-of-pack and shelf-labeling criteria, the company said it remained hopeful that a science-based front-of-pack and shelf-labeling system would emerge.

About General Mills
One of the world's leading food companies, General Mills operates in more than 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, USA, General Mills had fiscal 2009 global net sales of US$15.9 billion, including the company’s $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales. Visit www.generalmills.com.

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For More Information, Contact:

Heidi Geller
General Mills
763-764-6364