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      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
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      <ShortName>Debt (Details2)</ShortName>
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      <LongName>04082 - Disclosure - Debt (Details3)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.generalmills.com/role/DisclosureDebtDetails3</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt (Details3)</ShortName>
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      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
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      <LongName>04090 - Disclosure - Noncontrolling Interests (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.generalmills.com/role/DisclosureNoncontrollingInterestsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Noncontrolling Interests (Details)</ShortName>
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    <Report>
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      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R57.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>04100 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.generalmills.com/role/DisclosureStockholdersEquityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity (Details)</ShortName>
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    <Report>
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      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R58.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>04110 - Disclosure - Stock Plans (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.generalmills.com/role/DisclosureStockPlansDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock Plans (Details)</ShortName>
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    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R59.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>04120 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.generalmills.com/role/DisclosureEarningsPerShareDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share (Details)</ShortName>
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    <Report>
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      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R60.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>04130 - Disclosure - Retirement and Postemployment Benefits (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.generalmills.com/role/DisclosureRetirementAndPostemploymentBenefitsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Retirement and Postemployment Benefits (Details)</ShortName>
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    <Report>
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      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R61.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>04140 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.generalmills.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Details)</ShortName>
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    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R62.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>04150 - Disclosure - Leases and Other Commitments (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.generalmills.com/role/DisclosureLeasesAndOtherCommitmentsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Leases and Other Commitments (Details)</ShortName>
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      <HtmlFileName>R63.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>04160 - Disclosure - Business Segment and Geographic Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.generalmills.com/role/DisclosureBusinessSegmentAndGeographicInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Segment and Geographic Information (Details)</ShortName>
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    <Report>
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      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R64.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>04170 - Disclosure - Supplemental Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.generalmills.com/role/DisclosureSupplementalInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Information (Details)</ShortName>
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    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R65.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>04180 - Disclosure - Quarterly Data (Unaudited) (Details)</LongName>
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      <Role>http://www.generalmills.com/role/DisclosureQuarterlyDataUnauditedDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Quarterly Data (Unaudited) (Details)</ShortName>
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      <HtmlFileName>R66.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>04200 - Disclosure - Schedule II (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.generalmills.com/role/DisclosureScheduleIIDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Schedule II (Details)</ShortName>
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    <Report>
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      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
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    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00200 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'May 31, 2009'</Log>
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    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00210 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Paranthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'May 31, 2009'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00300 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended
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    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended
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    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended
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    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended
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    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended
May 30, 2010'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended
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    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended
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    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended
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    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00400 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00550 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF TOTAL EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parentheticals)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended
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    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended
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    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended
Aug. 29, 2010'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended
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    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended
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    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column '3 Months Ended
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    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 03150 - Statement - Leases and Other Commitments (Tables)</Log>
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