Managing potential issues with pesticide residue in ingredients is a core part of our approach to food safety. Leading with safety in the food we make is the foundational operating principle of our business. We take a systematic approach to safety focusing on prevention, intervention and response. This approach is integrated into all our processes, and we work across our supply chain and with global regulatory agencies to ensure safety in pesticide use. Within our supply chain, we use inventory controls and supplier management systems that include the ability to trace the sources of our ingredients, which is key to isolating risks in the event of any food safety concerns.

Within production facilities, we conduct internal risk-based surveillance and food safety testing to identify and prioritize specific areas of risk. Our Global Internal Audit team periodically audits the effectiveness and efficiency of food safety controls and operating procedures. Results are reported to the company’s Global Governance Council and Board of Directors. We freely share our best practices and emerging areas of concern, as well as collaborate with industry peers and regulators to help raise safety standards industry-wide. Learn more about our food safety investments, supplier trainings, and collaboration here..

Government agencies around the world carefully monitor and set regulatory limits for pesticide residues. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) researches pesticides before they are approved for use and sets strict tolerance levels for pesticide residues in foods. These tolerance levels are then enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Similar procedures are replicated across all developed economies, and to assist all other nations across the world, the Joint WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius sets residue limits for pesticides based on their assessment by a team of internationally recognized experts..

At General Mills, our practices and processes ensure that all of our products are safe and comply with all regulatory limits. Recognizing that our products are only as safe as the ingredients in them, we utilize supplier trainings and audits to proactively manage our ingredient quality and safety standards. Farmers in our supply chain are careful to comply with the permitted uses of pesticides. To further ensure the safety of our products, for raw oats, we maintain a rigorous process of de-hulling, cleaning and flaking prior to use as ingredients in our products.

Globally-recognized food safety leadership

Our processes and dedication to ensuring food safety have led to global recognition for General Mills. In 2019, we were honored to receive the 2019 International Association of Food Protection Black Pearl Award. The prestigious Black Pearl Award is awarded to companies in recognition of food safety excellence. The nomination criteria is robust and recipients must show objective evidence of a commitment to food safety both across their organizations and externally.

HACCP In conjunction with NASA more than 30 years ago, General Mills developed HACCP - the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points process for ensuring food safety. Today, HACCP is the food industry's gold standard.

In addition to our strict regulatory compliance and food safety standards, we are committed to protecting and regenerating the land from which our ingredients are grown. Recognizing that synthetic pesticides may harm beneficial insects including pollinators, or drift beyond a farmer’s field, affecting nearby fields and ecosystems, we are actively working across our value chain to limit these unintended and potentially harmful impacts. We have strategies in place to reduce synthetic pesticide use, and we work with trusted agronomists and other experts to implement continuous improvement practices throughout our supply chain. Our commitments to regenerative agriculture, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), organic acreage expansion, and pollinators not only support healthy ecosystems and soil health, but also directly reduce farmer reliance on pesticides and other agrochemicals. Learn more about each area of focus in the sections that follow.

We are on a journey to make a meaningful difference through regenerative agriculture, which we define as agriculture that protects and intentionally enhances natural resources and farming communities. In 2019, we publicly announced an ambitious goal to advance regenerative agriculture on one million acres of farmland by 2030 – estimated to be more than 20% of our Global sourcing footprint and roughly the size of the Grand Canyon. Among its many benefits, regenerative agriculture suppresses pests by rebuilding natural pest cycles to significantly reduce the need for synthetic pesticides. To realize the full potential of regenerative agriculture on a large scale, we encourage all farmers – organic and conventional – to consider adopting a regenerative approach to agricultural management.