also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits pro- vide a reasonable basis for our opinions. A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a pro- cess designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and disposi- tions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expendi- tures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the finan- cial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over finan- cial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compli- ance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of General Mills, Inc. and subsidiaries as of May 30, 2010, and May 31, 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended May 30, 2010, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the accom- panying financial statement schedule, when considered in rela- tion to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein. Also in our opinion, General Mills, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of May 30, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. As disclosed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial State- ments, the Company changed its method of accounting for noncontrolling interests in fiscal year 2010. Minneapolis, Minnesota July 9, 2010 46 General Mills