-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000897101-04-002741.txt : 20041221
<SEC-HEADER>0000897101-04-002741.hdr.sgml : 20041221
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041221132520
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000897101-04-002741
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041213
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041221
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041221

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENERAL MILLS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000040704
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	GRAIN MILL PRODUCTS [2040]
		IRS NUMBER:				410274440
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0525

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NUMBER ONE GENERAL MILLS BLVD
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55426
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(763) 764-7600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 1113
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55440

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Danos Paul
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001291934

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-01185
		FILM NUMBER:		041216485

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		508-651-7400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MERCER ROAD
		CITY:			NATICK
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01760
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>gis045994danos_3ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-13</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000040704</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENERAL MILLS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GIS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001291934</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Danos Paul</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>TUCK SCHOOL OF BUSINESS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>DARMOUTH COLLEGE, 100 TUCK HALL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HANOVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03755</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Trevor Gunderson by Power of Attorney on behalf of Paul Danos</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>gis045994danos_poa.htm
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>General Mills/Paul Danos Form 3 dated Dec. 13, 2004</TITLE></HEAD>
<BODY>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Minor Center Bold" FSL="Default" -->
<A NAME=A001></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>POWER OF ATTORNEY </FONT></H1>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Flush" FSL="Default" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>I appoint  Siri S.  Marshall,
 Michael L. Davis,  Elizabeth  L.  Wittenberg,  Trevor V.  Gunderson  and Kathleen M.
Curran, together and separately, to be my attorneys-in-fact.  This means they may, in my
place: </FONT></P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Hang" FSL="Default" -->
<TABLE WIDTH=100% CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0>
<TR VALIGN=TOP>
<TD WIDTH=3%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&#149; </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=97%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
sign Securities and Exchange Commission Forms 3, 4, and 5, and all amendments to these
forms, reporting transactions in General Mills&#146; equity securities; </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Hang" FSL="Default" -->
<TABLE WIDTH=100% CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0>
<TR VALIGN=TOP>
<TD WIDTH=3%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&#149; </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=97%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>file
these forms and amendments with the SEC;  </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Hang" FSL="Default" -->
<TABLE WIDTH=100% CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0>
<TR VALIGN=TOP>
<TD WIDTH=3%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&#149; </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=97%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>perform
the acts that need to be done concerning these filings; and </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Hang" FSL="Default" -->
<TABLE WIDTH=100% CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0>
<TR VALIGN=TOP>
<TD WIDTH=3%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&#149;  </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=97%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>name
others to take their place. </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Flush" FSL="Default" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>I am responsible for everything my
attorneys-in-fact do when acting lawfully within the scope of this Power of Attorney. </FONT></P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Flush" FSL="Default" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>The attorneys-in-fact, in acting at
my request, are not assuming any of my responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. General Mills is not assuming my Section 16
responsibilities either. </FONT></P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Flush" FSL="Default" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>This Power of Attorney remains in
effect until: </FONT></P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Hang" FSL="Default" -->
<TABLE WIDTH=100% CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0>
<TR VALIGN=TOP>
<TD WIDTH=3%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&#149; </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=97%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>I
am no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 for General Mills' securities; or </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Hang" FSL="Default" -->
<TABLE WIDTH=100% CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0>
<TR VALIGN=TOP>
<TD WIDTH=3%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&#149; </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=97%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>I
revoke it, in writing, and deliver the revocation to my attorneys-in-fact.  </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>


<TABLE CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 WIDTH=100%>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD WIDTH=60% ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</font></TD>
     <TD WIDTH=30% ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>/s/ Paul Danos</font></TD></tr>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT>&nbsp;</TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><HR></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</font></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Paul Danos</font></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</font></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Dated: 12/16/04</font></TD></tr>
</TABLE>


<BR><BR>

<HR SIZE=3 COLOR=GRAY NOSHADE>


</body>
</html>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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