| Schedule Of Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted [Table Text Block] |
| | Fiscal Year | | In Millions, Except per Share Data | | 2011 | | | 2010 | | | 2009 | | Net earnings attributable to General Mills | $ | 1,798.3 | | $ | 1,530.5 | | $ | 1,304.4 | | | | | | | | | | | | Average number of common shares - basic EPS | | 642.7 | | | 659.6 | | | 663.7 | | Incremental share effect from: (a) | | | | | | | | | | Stock options | | 16.6 | | | 17.7 | | | 17.9 | | Restricted stock, restricted stock units, and other | | 5.5 | | | 6.0 | | | 5.5 | | Average number of common shares - diluted EPS | | 664.8 | | | 683.3 | | | 687.1 | | Earnings per share - basic | $ | 2.80 | | $ | 2.32 | | $ | 1.96 | | Earnings per share - diluted | $ | 2.70 | | $ | 2.24 | | $ | 1.90 |
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