$GIS
GENERAL MILLS INC Stock $gis

$gis Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2012 Q1 Form 10-Q Financial Statement

#000119312512125489 Filed on March 21, 2012

Income Statement

Concept	2012 Q1	2011 Q2	2011 Q1
Revenue	$4.120B	$3.634B	$3.646B
YoY Change	13.0%	2.98%	1.59%
Cost Of Revenue	$2.613B	$2.270B	$2.215B
YoY Change	17.93%	0.53%	-0.63%
Gross Profit	$1.507B	$1.364B	$1.431B
YoY Change	5.35%	7.32%	5.22%
Gross Profit Margin	36.59%	37.54%	39.24%
Selling, General & Admin	$838.7M	$828.8M	$790.2M
YoY Change	6.14%	3.94%	-0.21%
% of Gross Profit	55.64%	60.74%	55.23%
Research & Development
YoY Change
% of Gross Profit
Depreciation & Amortization	$135.5M	$118.1M	$124.3M
YoY Change	9.01%	1.11%	10.59%
% of Gross Profit	8.99%	8.66%	8.69%
Operating Expenses	$838.7M	$828.8M	$790.2M
YoY Change	6.14%	3.94%	-0.21%
Operating Profit	$668.6M	$535.6M	$654.8M
YoY Change	2.11%	13.02%	16.6%
Interest Expense	$96.00M	-$89.40M	$85.00M
YoY Change	12.94%	2.88%	-9.77%
% of Operating Profit	14.36%	-16.69%	12.98%
Other Income/Expense, Net
YoY Change
Pretax Income	$572.6M	$447.0M	$569.8M
YoY Change	0.49%	29.23%	21.91%
Income Tax	$187.3M	$155.7M	$181.7M
% Of Pretax Income	32.71%	34.83%	31.89%
Net Earnings	$391.5M	$320.2M	$392.1M
YoY Change	-0.15%	51.11%	17.92%
Net Earnings / Revenue	9.5%	8.81%	10.75%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$0.61	$0.50	$0.61
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$0.58	$0.48	$0.59
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	647.9M shares		638.9M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding	667.3M shares		660.1M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2012 Q1	2011 Q2	2011 Q1
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$485.0M	$620.0M	$540.0M
YoY Change	-10.19%	-7.88%	-21.85%
Cash & Equivalents	$485.0M	$619.6M	$540.3M
Short-Term Investments
Other Short-Term Assets	$386.0M	$483.5M	$417.7M
YoY Change	-7.59%	27.74%	29.36%
Inventory	$1.528B	$1.609B	$1.668B
Prepaid Expenses		$161.0M
Receivables	$1.437B	$1.162B	$1.186B
Other Receivables	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total Short-Term Assets	$3.836B	$3.902B	$3.843B
YoY Change	-0.17%	12.13%	4.51%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$3.550B	$3.346B	$3.180B
YoY Change	11.62%	6.98%	5.86%
Goodwill	$8.205B	$6.751B	$6.703B
YoY Change	22.41%	2.4%	0.86%
Intangibles	$4.728B	$3.813B	$3.803B
YoY Change	24.34%	2.65%	1.65%
Long-Term Investments		$519.1M
YoY Change		30.39%
Other Assets	$1.119B	$862.5M	$752.5M
YoY Change	48.76%	12.98%	-34.46%
Total Long-Term Assets	$17.60B	$14.77B	$14.44B
YoY Change	21.91%	4.04%	-0.69%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$3.836B	$3.902B	$3.843B
Total Long-Term Assets	$17.60B	$14.77B	$14.44B
Total Assets	$21.44B	$18.67B	$18.28B
YoY Change	17.27%	5.63%	0.36%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$1.012B	$995.1M	$830.1M
YoY Change	21.9%	17.14%	20.22%
Accrued Expenses
YoY Change
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$690.8M	$311.3M	$974.5M
YoY Change	-29.11%	-70.36%	67.7%
Long-Term Debt Due	$749.1M	$1.031B	$1.031B
YoY Change	-27.34%	863.83%	863.55%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$3.849B	$3.659B	$4.511B
YoY Change	-14.68%	-2.92%	51.06%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$6.195B	$5.543B	$4.843B
YoY Change	27.91%	5.19%	-14.62%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$1.775B	$1.733B	$1.826B
YoY Change	-2.82%	-18.2%	-5.85%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$7.970B	$7.276B	$1.826B
YoY Change	336.38%	243.4%	-5.85%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$3.849B	$3.659B	$4.511B
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$7.970B	$7.276B	$1.826B
Total Liabilities	$13.19B	$12.06B	$12.17B
YoY Change	8.36%	0.26%	3.66%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$9.834B	$9.191B	$9.053B
YoY Change	8.62%	13.16%	12.1%
Common Stock	$1.413B	$1.395B	$1.376B
YoY Change	2.69%	0.92%	1.77%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)	$3.213B	$3.210B	$3.401B
YoY Change	-5.51%	22.76%	45.56%
Treasury Stock Shares	107.4M shares	109.8M shares	116.3M shares
Shareholders Equity	$6.922B	$6.366B	$5.866B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$21.44B	$18.67B	$18.28B
YoY Change	17.27%	5.63%	0.36%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2012 Q1	2011 Q2	2011 Q1
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$391.5M	$320.2M	$392.1M
YoY Change	-0.15%	51.11%	17.92%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$135.5M	$118.1M	$124.3M
YoY Change	9.01%	1.11%	10.59%
Cash From Operating Activities	$505.1M	$283.0M	$648.6M
YoY Change	-22.12%	-54.57%	13.57%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$159.1M	-$225.4M	-$139.1M
YoY Change	14.38%	-2.42%	-13.82%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	$100.0K	-$22.80M	-$61.40M
YoY Change	-100.16%	314.55%	-43.25%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$159.0M	-$248.2M	-$200.5M
YoY Change	-20.7%	4.95%	-25.63%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	-377.5M	31.10M	-489.3M
YoY Change	-22.85%	-108.42%	10.38%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	505.1M	283.0M	648.6M
Cash From Investing Activities	-159.0M	-248.2M	-200.5M
Cash From Financing Activities	-377.5M	31.10M	-489.3M
Net Change In Cash	-31.40M	65.90M	-41.20M
YoY Change	-23.79%	285.38%	-70.94%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$505.1M	$283.0M	$648.6M
Capital Expenditures	-$159.1M	-$225.4M	-$139.1M
Free Cash Flow	$664.2M	$508.4M	$787.7M
YoY Change	-15.68%	-40.47%	7.54%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2012Q1	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-Q
CY2012Q1	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2012-02-26
CY2012Q1	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2012Q1	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	GENERAL MILLS INC,
CY2012Q1	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0000040704
CY2012Q1	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2012Q1	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	Yes
CY2012Q1	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--05-27
CY2012Q1	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2012Q1	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes
CY2012Q1	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2012
CY2012Q1	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	Q3
CY2012Q1	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	22432900000	USD
CY2012Q1	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	647308942	shares
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	4120100000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.61
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	3646200000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	790200000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	838700000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Netincomelossincludingredeemableandnoncontrollinginterest Netincomelossincludingredeemableandnoncontrollinginterest	400800000	USD
CY2011Q1	gis	Netincomelossincludingredeemableandnoncontrollinginterest Netincomelossincludingredeemableandnoncontrollinginterest	393500000	USD
	gis	Net Income Loss Attributable To Redeemable And Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToRedeemableAndNoncontrollingInterest	12400000	USD
	gis	Net Income Loss Attributable To Redeemable And Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToRedeemableAndNoncontrollingInterest	4300000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	0.305
	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	0.915
	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.30
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Restructuring Settlement And Impairment Provisions RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions	100000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Restructuring Settlement And Impairment Provisions RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions	100000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	668600000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	654800000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	85000000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	572600000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	569800000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	187300000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	181700000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	15500000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	5400000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	392100000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	0.280
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.61
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.58
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.59
	us-gaap	Restructuring Settlement And Impairment Provisions RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions	900000	USD
	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	2523300000	USD
	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	6656800000	USD
	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	2363200000	USD
	us-gaap	Restructuring Settlement And Impairment Provisions RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions	2100000	USD
	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	2024400000	USD
	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	2238100000	USD
	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	256900000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1755800000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1981200000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	574200000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	565400000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	72700000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	66600000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1241900000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1478100000	USD
	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.92
	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.86
	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.22
	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	0.840
	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	11245900000	USD
	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	12591500000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	2215400000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	391500000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Net Income Loss Attributable To Redeemable And Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToRedeemableAndNoncontrollingInterest	9300000	USD
CY2011Q1	gis	Net Income Loss Attributable To Redeemable And Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToRedeemableAndNoncontrollingInterest	1400000	USD
	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Other Assets GainLossOnSaleOfOtherAssets	0	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Other Assets GainLossOnSaleOfOtherAssets	0	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Other Assets GainLossOnSaleOfOtherAssets	14300000	USD
	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Other Assets GainLossOnSaleOfOtherAssets	14300000	USD
	gis	Netincomelossincludingredeemableandnoncontrollinginterest Netincomelossincludingredeemableandnoncontrollinginterest	1254300000	USD
	gis	Netincomelossincludingredeemableandnoncontrollinginterest Netincomelossincludingredeemableandnoncontrollinginterest	1482400000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	9191300000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	6365500000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Minority Interest MinorityInterest	482800000	USD
	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	268600000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	96000000	USD
	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	8042900000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	2612700000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Receivables Net Current ReceivablesNetCurrent	1437100000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Receivables Net Current ReceivablesNetCurrent	1162300000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	1528000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	1609300000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Current DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent	27800000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Current DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent	27300000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	3836300000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	3902000000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	3549900000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	3345900000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	8205000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	6750800000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	4728400000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	3813300000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	1119400000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	862500000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Assets Assets	21439000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Assets Assets	18674500000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	1011900000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	995100000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Short Term Borrowings ShortTermBorrowings	690800000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Short Term Borrowings ShortTermBorrowings	311300000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	1397200000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	1321500000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	3849000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	3659200000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent	1367600000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent	1127400000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	1774800000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	1733200000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	13186200000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	12062300000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	1337700000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	1319800000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	9833700000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Minority Interest MinorityInterest	246700000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	7404400000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	6612200000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.10
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.10
	gis	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portions Attributable To Noncontrolling And Redeemable Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionsAttributableToNoncontrollingAndRedeemableInterest	1072400000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	6921600000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-1111900000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-1010800000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Liabilities Stockholders Equity And Redeemable Interest LiabilitiesStockholdersEquityAndRedeemableInterest	21439000000	USD
CY2011Q2	gis	Liabilities Stockholders Equity And Redeemable Interest LiabilitiesStockholdersEquityAndRedeemableInterest	18674500000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents And Short Term Investments CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestments	485300000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents And Short Term Investments CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestments	619600000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	483500000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	358100000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Current LongTermDebtCurrent	749100000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Current LongTermDebtCurrent	1031300000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Noncurrent LongTermDebtNoncurrent	5542500000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Noncurrent LongTermDebtNoncurrent	6194800000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Other Fair Value RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityOtherFairValue	0	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Other Fair Value RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityOtherFairValue	848400000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	3213400000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	3210300000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares TreasuryStockShares	107400000	shares
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares TreasuryStockShares	109800000	shares
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	754600000	shares
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	754600000	shares
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	75500000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	75500000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	1000000000	shares
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	1000000000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	1.12
CY2011	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Tax Effect From Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalTaxEffectFromShareBasedCompensation	106200000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	5648000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	1803500000	USD
CY2011	gis	Netincomelossincludingredeemableandnoncontrollinginterest Netincomelossincludingredeemableandnoncontrollinginterest	1803500000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	476800000	USD
CY2011	gis	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling And Redeemable Interests OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingAndRedeemableInterests	476800000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	2280300000	USD
CY2011	gis	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Redeemable Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToRedeemableInterest	0	USD
CY2011	gis	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portions Attributable To Noncontrolling And Redeemable Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionsAttributableToNoncontrollingAndRedeemableInterest	2280300000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Treasury Stock Reissued StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueTreasuryStockReissued	546200000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Restricted Stock Award Net Of Forfeitures StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures	-70400000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	105300000	USD
	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	1245500000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-127900000	USD
	gis	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling And Redeemable Interests OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingAndRedeemableInterests	-181900000	USD
	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	1117600000	USD
	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock Cash DividendsCommonStockCash	599500000	USD
	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	312500000	USD
	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Treasury Stock Reissued StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueTreasuryStockReissued	320200000	USD
	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Restricted Stock Award Net Of Forfeitures StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures	-92100000	USD
	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	88400000	USD
	gis	Noncontrolling And Redeemable Interest Period Additions Due To Acquisitions NoncontrollingAndRedeemableInterestPeriodAdditionsDueToAcquisitions	263800000	USD
	gis	Redeemable Interest Fair Value Increase Decrease RedeemableInterestFairValueIncreaseDecrease	10800000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Minority Interest Decrease From Distributions To Noncontrolling Interest Holders MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders	4300000	USD
	us-gaap	Minority Interest Decrease From Distributions To Noncontrolling Interest Holders MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders	4500000	USD
	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Tax Effect From Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalTaxEffectFromShareBasedCompensation	58700000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock Cash DividendsCommonStockCash	729400000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	1163500000	USD
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	88400000	USD
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	81400000	USD
	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	49900000	USD
	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	105800000	USD
	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions	43200000	USD
	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions	31400000	USD
	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Expense PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitExpense	58400000	USD
	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Expense PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitExpense	55100000	USD
	us-gaap	Restructuring Costs And Asset Impairment Charges RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges	-2600000	USD
	us-gaap	Restructuring Costs And Asset Impairment Charges RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges	-2500000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	1657200000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	1248100000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1400000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	3500000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Short Term Debt ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt	384900000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Short Term Debt ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt	-78400000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	1390500000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	500000000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	208500000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	256300000	USD
	us-gaap	Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Financing Activities ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities	58700000	USD
	us-gaap	Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Financing Activities ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities	75100000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-317100000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-972000000	USD
	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents	-4700000	USD
	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents	57900000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable Trade IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableTrade	-76800000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable Trade IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableTrade	4100000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	0	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-8400000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-8500000	USD
	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	354500000	USD
	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	398800000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	-153000000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	-80300000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents And Short Term Investments CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestments	673200000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents And Short Term Investments CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestments	540300000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-1469700000	USD
	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Contributions PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitContributions	15500000	USD
	us-gaap	Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Operating Activities ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationOperatingActivities	58700000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-6600000	USD
	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-134300000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Current Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentLiabilities	300000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	-111800000	USD
	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	1439300000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	900100000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	599500000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Operating Capital IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingCapital	-66700000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	115000000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	312500000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Equity Method Investments PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments	22100000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	423900000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-146400000	USD
	us-gaap	Origination Of Notes Receivable From Related Parties OriginationOfNotesReceivableFromRelatedParties	131600000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	84800000	USD
	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-132900000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Current Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentLiabilities	-168600000	USD
	us-gaap	Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Operating Activities ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationOperatingActivities	75100000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	423400000	USD
	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	5500000	USD
	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Contributions PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitContributions	11300000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-466900000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	1163500000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	110300000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Operating Capital IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingCapital	612400000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	304600000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-14700000	USD
	us-gaap	Origination Of Notes Receivable From Related Parties OriginationOfNotesReceivableFromRelatedParties	0	USD
	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Equity Method Investments PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments	1800000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	547500000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	33000000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	24900000	USD
	gis	Redeemable Interest Description RedeemableInterestDescription	9	years
	us-gaap	Basis Of Accounting BasisOfAccounting	<p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;margin-left:0px;">(1) Background</font></p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'> </p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:0px;">The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of General Mills, Inc. (we, us, our, General Mills, or the Company) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the rules and regulations for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include certain information and disclosures required for comprehensive financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included and are of a normal recurring nature, including the elimination of all intercompany transactions and any noncontrolling and redeemable interests' share of those transactions. Operating results for the quarterly and nine-month periods ended February 26, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending May 27, 2012. </font></p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'> </p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:0px;">These statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2011. The accounting policies used in preparing these Consolidated Financial Statements are the same as those described in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in that Form 10-K, in addition to the policy noted below.</font></p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'> </p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;margin-left:0px;">Redeemable Interest</font></p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'> </p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:0px;">Sodiaal International (Sodiaal) holds a 49 percent redeemable interest in Yoplait S.A.S., a consolidated entity. Sodiaal has the ability to put a limited portion of its redeemable interest to us at fair value once per year up to a maximum of </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">9</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> years. This put option requires us to classify Sodiaal's interest as a redeemable interest outside of equity on our consolidated balance sheets for as long as the put is exercisable by Sodiaal. When the put is no longer exercisable, the redeemable interest will be reclassified to noncontrolling interests on our consolidated balance sheets. We adjust the value of the redeemable interest through additional paid-in capital on our consolidated balance sheets quarterly to the redeemable interest's redemption value, which approximates its fair value. The significant assumptions used to estimate the redemption value include projected revenue growth and profitability from our long range plan, capital spending, depreciation and taxes, foreign currency rates, and a discount rate.</font></p>
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Purchase Price BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePrice	1200000000	USD
	us-gaap	Goodwill Acquired During Period GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	1544700000	USD
	us-gaap	Goodwill Translation And Purchase Accounting Adjustments GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments	-93100000	USD
	us-gaap	Goodwill Allocation Adjustment GoodwillAllocationAdjustment	2600000	USD
	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Acquired During Period IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAcquiredDuringPeriod	1127600000	USD
	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Translation And Purchase Accounting Adjustments IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments	-120100000	USD
	gis	Indefinitelivedintangibleassetspurchaseaccountingadjustments Indefinitelivedintangibleassetspurchaseaccountingadjustments	-92400000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials And Supplies InventoryRawMaterialsAndSupplies	348600000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Inventory Purchased Goods OtherInventoryPurchasedGoods	191400000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials And Supplies InventoryRawMaterialsAndSupplies	286200000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Other Inventory Purchased Goods OtherInventoryPurchasedGoods	218000000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods And Work In Process InventoryFinishedGoodsAndWorkInProcess	1228000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods And Work In Process InventoryFinishedGoodsAndWorkInProcess	1273600000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Inventory Lifo Reserve InventoryLIFOReserve	240000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Inventory Lifo Reserve InventoryLIFOReserve	168500000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost	10100000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure	14300000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Availableforsale Securities Gross Unrealized Gain AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGain	4200000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Losses1 AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLosses1	0	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure	15000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Availableforsale Securities Gross Unrealized Gain AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGain	4100000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost	10900000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Losses1 AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLosses1	0	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Marketable Securities And Cash Pledged As Collateral MarketableSecuritiesAndCashPledgedAsCollateral	2300000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Collateral Already Posted Aggregate Fair Value CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue	0	USD
	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Price Risk Derivative Instruments Not Designated As Hedging Instruments GainLossOnPriceRiskDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments	-88000000	USD
	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Price Risk Derivative Instruments Not Designated As Hedging Instruments GainLossOnPriceRiskDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments	146200000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Price Risk Derivative Instruments Not Designated As Hedging Instruments GainLossOnPriceRiskDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments	56400000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Price Risk Derivative Instruments Not Designated As Hedging Instruments GainLossOnPriceRiskDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments	20500000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Net Marktomarket Valuation Of Certain Commodity Positions Recognized In Unallocated Corporate Items NetMarktomarketValuationOfCertainCommodityPositionsRecognizedInUnallocatedCorporateItems	46400000	USD
CY2011Q1	gis	Net Marktomarket Valuation Of Certain Commodity Positions Recognized In Unallocated Corporate Items NetMarktomarketValuationOfCertainCommodityPositionsRecognizedInUnallocatedCorporateItems	33400000	USD
	gis	Net Marktomarket Valuation Of Certain Commodity Positions Recognized In Unallocated Corporate Items NetMarktomarketValuationOfCertainCommodityPositionsRecognizedInUnallocatedCorporateItems	-85700000	USD
	gis	Net Marktomarket Valuation Of Certain Commodity Positions Recognized In Unallocated Corporate Items NetMarktomarketValuationOfCertainCommodityPositionsRecognizedInUnallocatedCorporateItems	133300000	USD
	gis	Net Loss Gain On Commodity Positions Reclassified From Unallocated Corporate Items To Segment Operating Profit NetLossGainOnCommodityPositionsReclassifiedFromUnallocatedCorporateItemsToSegmentOperatingProfit	-22500000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Net Loss Gain On Commodity Positions Reclassified From Unallocated Corporate Items To Segment Operating Profit NetLossGainOnCommodityPositionsReclassifiedFromUnallocatedCorporateItemsToSegmentOperatingProfit	-23300000	USD
CY2011Q1	gis	Net Loss Gain On Commodity Positions Reclassified From Unallocated Corporate Items To Segment Operating Profit NetLossGainOnCommodityPositionsReclassifiedFromUnallocatedCorporateItemsToSegmentOperatingProfit	28600000	USD
	gis	Net Loss Gain On Commodity Positions Reclassified From Unallocated Corporate Items To Segment Operating Profit NetLossGainOnCommodityPositionsReclassifiedFromUnallocatedCorporateItemsToSegmentOperatingProfit	41700000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Fair Value Of Hedged Item In Price Risk Fair Value Hedge IncreaseDecreaseInFairValueOfHedgedItemInPriceRiskFairValueHedge	-28800000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Fair Value Of Hedged Item In Price Risk Fair Value Hedge IncreaseDecreaseInFairValueOfHedgedItemInPriceRiskFairValueHedge	20200000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Fair Value Of Hedged Item In Price Risk Fair Value Hedge IncreaseDecreaseInFairValueOfHedgedItemInPriceRiskFairValueHedge	-5600000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Fair Value Of Hedged Item In Price Risk Fair Value Hedge IncreaseDecreaseInFairValueOfHedgedItemInPriceRiskFairValueHedge	-2600000	USD
	us-gaap	Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedge Ineffectiveness Is Immaterial InterestRateCashFlowHedgeIneffectivenessIsImmaterial	The amount of hedge ineffectiveness was less than $1 million
	us-gaap	Ineffectiveness On Interest Rate Fair Value Hedges Is Immaterial IneffectivenessOnInterestRateFairValueHedgesIsImmaterial	The amount of hedge ineffectiveness was less than $1 million
	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedge Ineffectiveness Is Immaterial ForeignCurrencyCashFlowHedgeIneffectivenessIsImmaterial	less than $1 million
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Assets Fair Value Disclosure AssetsFairValueDisclosure	-63000000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure OtherLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure	0	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure	-34400000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Assets Fair Value Disclosure AssetsFairValueDisclosure	-187600000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure OtherLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure	0	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure	-86000000	USD
	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income Effective Portion Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet	0	USD
	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income Effective Portion Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet	0	USD
	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Reclassified From Accumulated Oci Into Income Effective Portion Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet	0	USD
	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Reclassified From Accumulated Oci Into Income Effective Portion Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet	0	USD
	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeNet	0	USD
	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeNet	0	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Derivative Net Liability Position Aggregate Fair Value DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue	1000000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Loans Payable Fair Value Disclosure LoansPayableFairValueDisclosure	7680000000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	6943900000	USD
	us-gaap	Concentration Risk Credit Risk Financial Instrument Maximum Exposure ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure	35600000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Deferred Net Foreign Currency Transaction Gains Losses After Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income DeferredNetForeignCurrencyTransactionGainsLossesAfterTaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome	-95700000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Unrealized Gain Loss On Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges After Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesAfterTaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome	-75700000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Unrealized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Net After Tax UnrealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesNetAfterTax	1000000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Hedge Gain Loss To Be Reclassified During Next Twelve Months Net HedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNextTwelveMonthsNet	14100000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Notional Amount Of Price Risk Derivative Instruments Not Designated As Hedging Instruments NotionalAmountOfPriceRiskDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments	239300000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Notional Amount Of Price Risk Derivatives Energy NotionalAmountOfPriceRiskDerivativesEnergy	206500000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Notional Amount Of Price Risk Derivatives Agricultural NotionalAmountOfPriceRiskDerivativesAgricultural	32800000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Notional Amount Of Foreign Currency Derivatives NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyDerivatives	1009300000	USD
	us-gaap	Maximum Length Of Time Hedged In Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedge MaximumLengthOfTimeHedgedInForeignCurrencyCashFlowHedge	18 months
CY2012Q1	gis	Us Commercial Paper UsCommercialPaper	551900000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Short Term Bank Loans And Notes Payable ShortTermBankLoansAndNotesPayable	138900000	USD
CY2011Q2	gis	Us Commercial Paper UsCommercialPaper	192500000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Short Term Bank Loans And Notes Payable ShortTermBankLoansAndNotesPayable	118800000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	2900000000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Amount Outstanding LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstanding	138900000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Line Of Credit Facility Uncomitted LineOfCreditFacilityUncomitted	421700000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Basis Spread On Variable Rate DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate	0.0035	pure
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage	0.0155	pure
	gis	Exclusive Agreement Maturity Date ExclusiveAgreementMaturityDate	2021-07-01
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Before Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent	79000000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	900000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	-11000000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Amortization Of Defined Benefit Plan Net Prior Service Cost Credit Recognized In Net Periodic Benefit Cost Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAmortizationOfDefinedBenefitPlanNetPriorServiceCostCreditRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostBeforeTax	32900000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Before Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent	105500000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Before Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent	102600000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-3600000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	-13000000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Amortization Of Defined Benefit Plan Net Prior Service Cost Credit Recognized In Net Periodic Benefit Cost Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAmortizationOfDefinedBenefitPlanNetPriorServiceCostCreditRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostBeforeTax	27200000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Before Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent	118400000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	2700000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	5500000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currencytransaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Redeemable Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencytransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToRedeemableInterest	18000000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax Attributable To Redeemable Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTaxAttributableToRedeemableInterest	-1500000	USD
CY2011Q1	gis	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currencytransaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Redeemable Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencytransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToRedeemableInterest	0	USD
CY2011Q1	gis	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax Attributable To Redeemable Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTaxAttributableToRedeemableInterest	0	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	8200000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeTax	-4300000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-7200000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Gain Loss Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	79000000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	500000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-9500000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	5500000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Redeemable Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToRedeemableInterest	17300000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	92700000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Amortization Of Defined Benefit Plan Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Pension Cost Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAmortizationOfDefinedBenefitPlanNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicPensionCostNetOfTax	20400000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeTax	-1400000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-12800000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	503300000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	1500000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	100000	USD
CY2011Q1	gis	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Redeemable Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToRedeemableInterest	0	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	100000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Gain Loss Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	102600000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-2200000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-6900000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Amortization Of Defined Benefit Plan Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Pension Cost Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAmortizationOfDefinedBenefitPlanNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicPensionCostNetOfTax	16800000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	111200000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	1400000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	484200000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Redeemable Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToRedeemableInterest	23900000	USD
CY2011Q1	gis	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Redeemable Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToRedeemableInterest	0	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToRedeemableNoncontrollingInterest	6600000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToRedeemableNoncontrollingInterest	0	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeBeforeTax	-3700000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Gain Loss Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodTax	0	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	400000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-1500000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	-2300000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-6100000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-1400000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	-900000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Gain Loss Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodTax	0	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeBeforeTax	-5200000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Amortization Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Pension Cost Tax Effect OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAmortizationPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicPensionCostTaxEffect	12500000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Amortization Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Pension Cost Tax Effect OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAmortizationPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicPensionCostTaxEffect	10400000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Othercomprehensiveincomereclassificationadjustmentonderivativesincludedinnetincomenetoftaxportionattributabletoredeemableinterest Othercomprehensiveincomereclassificationadjustmentonderivativesincludedinnetincomenetoftaxportionattributabletoredeemableinterest	-800000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	3600000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToRedeemableNoncontrollingInterest	8800000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Before Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-121600000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	200000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	-78100000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Amortization Of Defined Benefit Plan Net Prior Service Cost Credit Recognized In Net Periodic Benefit Cost Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAmortizationOfDefinedBenefitPlanNetPriorServiceCostCreditRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostBeforeTax	98700000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Before Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-90100000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeTax	-4100000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-11000000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Gain Loss Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-121600000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	100000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-47500000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-101100000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Amortization Of Defined Benefit Plan Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Pension Cost Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAmortizationOfDefinedBenefitPlanNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicPensionCostNetOfTax	61300000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-30900000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-14200000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-3500000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Gain Loss Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	278700000	USD
	gis	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currencytransaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Redeemable Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencytransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToRedeemableInterest	-52900000	USD
	gis	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax Attributable To Redeemable Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTaxAttributableToRedeemableInterest	-1900000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	324700000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeTax	-8200000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Amortization Of Defined Benefit Plan Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Pension Cost Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAmortizationOfDefinedBenefitPlanNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicPensionCostNetOfTax	50600000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	-26800000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	-26800000	USD
	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	-23200000	USD
	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	1140800000	USD
	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	1802800000	USD
	gis	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Redeemable Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToRedeemableInterest	-54000000	USD
	gis	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Redeemable Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToRedeemableInterest	-45200000	USD
	gis	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Redeemable Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToRedeemableInterest	0	USD
	gis	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currencytransaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Redeemable Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencytransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToRedeemableInterest	0	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4300000	USD
	gis	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax Attributable To Redeemable Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTaxAttributableToRedeemableInterest	0	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	400000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	400000	USD
	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4700000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToRedeemableNoncontrollingInterest	0	USD
	gis	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Redeemable Interest OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToRedeemableInterest	0	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Gain Loss Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodTax	0	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	100000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-30600000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	-6600000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeBeforeTax	-10700000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-6200000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeBeforeTax	-21300000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Gain Loss Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodTax	0	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-2200000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	-13100000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Amortization Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Pension Cost Tax Effect OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAmortizationPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicPensionCostTaxEffect	37400000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Amortization Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Net Prior Service Cost Recognized In Net Periodic Pension Cost Tax Effect OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAmortizationPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNetPriorServiceCostRecognizedInNetPeriodicPensionCostTaxEffect	31100000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-5700000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Before Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent	278700000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	-20400000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Amortization Of Defined Benefit Plan Net Prior Service Cost Credit Recognized In Net Periodic Benefit Cost Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeAmortizationOfDefinedBenefitPlanNetPriorServiceCostCreditRecognizedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostBeforeTax	81700000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Before Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent	355600000	USD
	gis	Othercomprehensiveincomereclassificationadjustmentonderivativesincludedinnetincomenetoftaxportionattributabletoredeemableinterest Othercomprehensiveincomereclassificationadjustmentonderivativesincludedinnetincomenetoftaxportionattributabletoredeemableinterest	-800000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	431600000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	553200000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	2100000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	2000000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cumulative Changes In Net Gain Loss From Cash Flow Hedges Effect Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax	-76700000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cumulative Changes In Net Gain Loss From Cash Flow Hedges Effect Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax	-35800000	USD
CY2012Q1	gis	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Actuarial Gain Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetActuarialGainLossNetOfTax	-1451600000	USD
CY2011Q2	gis	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Actuarial Gain Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetActuarialGainLossNetOfTax	-1509500000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Defined Benefit Pension And Other Postretirement Plans Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax	17300000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Defined Benefit Pension And Other Postretirement Plans Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax	20700000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	31300000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	38200000	USD
	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	115200000	USD
	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	124800000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized	175600000	USD
	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Period For Recognition EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition	20	months
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	138400000	USD
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	181900000	USD
	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Cash Received From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions	256300000	USD
	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Cash Received From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions	208500000	USD
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Method Used ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsMethodUsed	We estimate the fair value of each option on the grant date using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Black-Scholes option-pricing models require us to make predictive assumptions regarding future stock price volatility, employee exercise behavior, and dividend yield. We estimate our future stock price volatility using the historical volatility over the expected term of the option, excluding time periods of volatility we believe a marketplace participant would exclude in estimating our stock price volatility. We also have considered, but did not use, implied volatility in our estimate, because trading activity in options on our stock, especially those with tenors of greater than 6 months, is insufficient to provide a reliable measure of expected volatility. Our method of selecting the other valuation assumptions is explained on page 65 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2011.
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	5.88
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	4.12
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate	0.029	pure
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate	0.029	pure
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Term ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm	8.500	years
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Term ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm	8.500	years
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate	0.176	pure
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate	0.185	pure
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Dividend Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate	0.033	pure
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Dividend Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate	0.030	pure
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	67547300	shares
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod	4069000	shares
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	26.82
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	37.29
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	24.26
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures And Expirations In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	30.14
	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	9135600	shares
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures And Expirations In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod	266700	shares
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	62214000	shares
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber	40816700	shares
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	27.86
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	25.20
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	4.85	years
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm	3.35	years
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	640300000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1	528700000	USD
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Vested In Period Total Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue	98200000	USD
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Vested In Period Total Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue	86400000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	647900000	shares
CY2012Q1	gis	Amountof Dilutive Securities Stock Options AmountofDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptions	14400000	shares
CY2012Q1	gis	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Restricted Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesRestrictedStockUnits	5000000	shares
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	638900000	shares
CY2011Q1	gis	Amountof Dilutive Securities Stock Options AmountofDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptions	15500000	shares
CY2011Q1	gis	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Restricted Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesRestrictedStockUnits	5700000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	647400000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	642800000	shares
	gis	Amountof Dilutive Securities Stock Options AmountofDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptions	14500000	shares
	gis	Amountof Dilutive Securities Stock Options AmountofDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptions	16800000	shares
	gis	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Restricted Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesRestrictedStockUnits	4600000	shares
	gis	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Restricted Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesRestrictedStockUnits	5400000	shares
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	667300000	shares
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	660100000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	666500000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	665000000	shares
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	2800000	shares
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	5200000	shares
	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	5700000	shares
	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	5200000	shares
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	2600000	shares
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	101700000	USD
	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	8300000	shares
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	5600000	shares
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	199900000	USD
	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	31800000	shares
	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	1163500000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Debt Assumed1 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionDebtAssumed1	261300000	USD
	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	296600000	USD
	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	300600000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	508500000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	411600000	USD
	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Disclosures LossContingencyDisclosures	<p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:10pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;margin-left:0px;">(14) </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Contingencies</font></p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:0px;">We are party to various pending or threatened legal actions in the ordinary course of our business.  In our opinion, there were no claims or litigation pending as of February 26, 2012, that were reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.  These matters include a class action lawsuit</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">filed on January 14, 2010, in the United States District Court, Central District of California, </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">alleging that we made false and misleading claims about the digestive health benefits of our </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;">YoPlus</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> yogurt product.  The </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;">YoPlus</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> matter is scheduled to go to trial in June 2012.  We believe that we have meritorious defenses against these allegations and will vigorously defend our position.  As of February 26, 2012, we have not recorded a loss contingency for this matter.</font></p>
	gis	Number Of Segments NumberOfSegments	3	segment

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0001193125-12-125489-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-12-125489-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-12-125489.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-12-125489-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
d319039d10q.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d319039dex121.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d319039dex311.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d319039dex312.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d319039dex321.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d319039dex322.htm	Edgar Link	pending
FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
Financial_Report.xls	Edgar Link	pending
gis-20120226.xml	Edgar Link	completed
gis-20120226.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
gis-20120226_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
gis-20120226_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
gis-20120226_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
gis-20120226_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
R1.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R10.htm	Edgar Link	pending
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R8.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R9.htm	Edgar Link	pending
report.css	Edgar Link	pending
Show.js	Edgar Link	pending

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$GIS
GENERAL MILLS INC Stock $gis

2012 Q1 Form 10-Q Financial Statement

#000119312512125489 Filed on March 21, 2012

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$GIS GENERAL MILLS INC Stock $gis

2012 Q1 Form 10-Q Financial Statement

#000119312512125489 Filed on March 21, 2012

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$GIS
GENERAL MILLS INC Stock $gis