General Mills

🚨 Reasons for Boycotting General Mills

General Mills is one of the world's largest food companies, owning iconic brands such as Cheerios, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Häagen-Dazs, and Nature Valley. While the company sold its stake in an israeli joint venture in 2022, it continues to sell products in israil, collaborates with israeli food-tech companies, and was previously listed by the United Nations as operating in illegal settlements. Additionally, its largest shareholders - Vanguard and BlackRock - are among the largest investors in the weapons companies supplying the israeli occupation military.

1. Pillsbury Factory in Atarot Settlement (2002-2022): From 2002 to 2022, General Mills - through a joint venture with israeli group Bodan Holdings - operated a Pillsbury frozen-food factory in the Atarot Industrial Zone in occupied East Jerusalem, an illegal israeli settlement under international law. In 2020, the United Nations listed General Mills in its database of companies operating in israeli settlements. In June 2022, General Mills sold its 60% stake in the joint venture to Bodan Holdings, but confirmed it "continues to sell its products in israil" and "looks forward to continuing to serve israeli consumers."JTA: Boycott advocates claim victory as General Mills divests its israeli dough operation (June 2022)Al-Haq: General Mills Divestment from israeli Settlements (2022)General Mills Official Statement: An Update on General Mills Joint Venture in israel (May 2022)
2. Continuing Sales in the israeli Market: Despite selling the joint venture, General Mills confirmed in its official statement that it "continues to sell its products in israil" and looks forward to "continuing to serve israeli consumers" with its other brands. These brands include Häagen-Dazs (distributed in israil by Noga Ice Cream, a subsidiary of the Osem-Nestlé group, under an exclusive agreement), Betty Crocker, Nature Valley, and others. Consequently, General Mills' profits from the israeli market continue to flow into the israeli economy.Globes: israeli regulator allows Osem to distribute Haagen Dazs (August 2018)KCJC: General Mills refutes claims by BDS movement that it is boycotting israel (June 2022)JCRC: General Mills' restated commitment to remain in israeli market (August 2022)
3. Partnership with israeli Company Remilk: In 2023, General Mills partnered with israeli startup Remilk to explore precision fermentation technology in the production of dairy-free products. The partnership aims to develop dairy alternatives using israeli technology, directly linking General Mills to the israeli food-tech ecosystem. General Mills used Remilk's technology in its "Bold Cultr" cream cheese product.Food Business Africa: General Mills explores precision fermentation technology through partnership with Remilk (January 2023)The Spoon: Remilk Launches Recombinant Protein Powered Milk (November 2025)
4. UN Database Listing for Operating in Settlements: In February 2020, the United Nations listed General Mills in its official database of companies conducting business activities in illegal israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. This listing resulted from operating the Pillsbury factory in the Atarot Industrial Zone in occupied East Jerusalem. General Mills was one of only seven U.S. companies named on that list.BDS Movement: Release of UN settlement database (February 2020)CBC News: UN releases list of companies operating in West Bank settlements (February 2020)AFSC: How we got General Mills to divest (November 2022)
5. Primary Institutional Shareholders: Vanguard and BlackRock - Largest Investors in israeli Weaponry: According to shareholder data, General Mills' largest shareholders are BlackRock, Inc. (11.41%) and The Vanguard Group (5.22% - 7.08%). Both firms are explicitly named in an official United Nations report (OHCHR) by Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, identified as being "among the largest investors in arms companies pivotal to the genocidal arsenal of israel." Specifically: BlackRock is the second largest institutional investor in Palantir and third largest in Lockheed Martin and Caterpillar; Vanguard is the largest institutional investor in Caterpillar and second largest in Lockheed Martin and Elbit Systems. Consequently, the profits General Mills generates flow partly to these two funds, which channel billions of dollars into the weapons industry used by israil in its genocidal war on Gaza.ADVFN: General Mills (0R1X) Ownership Distribution — BlackRock 11.41%, Vanguard 5.22%Investing.com: General Mills Ownership — BlackRock 11.73%, Vanguard 7.08%UN OHCHR: Report of the Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese (2025)
6. Stark Double Standards in Crisis Response: Although General Mills has taken clear public stances on issues such as the Ukraine war, it has issued no statement condemning the genocide in Gaza. Instead, the company chose "strict silence" regarding the devastation in Gaza, while continuing to sell its products in the israeli market. This stark contradiction exposes the company's claims of social responsibility and demonstrates that its ethical standards are selective.Brussels Morning: Does General Mills support israel? (October 2025)

🌐 Sources

Official and verifiable sources detailing General Mills' and its shareholders' involvement with israil:

• JTA: Boycott advocates claim victory as General Mills divests (June 2022)
• General Mills Official Statement: Joint Venture in israel (May 2022)
• BDS Movement: UN Settlement Database Release (February 2020)
• CBC News: UN list of companies in West Bank settlements (February 2020)
• Food Business Africa: General Mills explores precision fermentation with Remilk (January 2023)
• Globes: Osem allowed to distribute Haagen Dazs (August 2018)
• JCRC: General Mills' commitment to remain in israeli market (August 2022)
• ADVFN: General Mills Ownership Distribution — BlackRock 11.41%, Vanguard 5.22%
• Investing.com: General Mills Ownership — BlackRock 11.73%, Vanguard 7.08%
• UN OHCHR: Report of the Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese (2025)
• Brussels Morning: Does General Mills support israel? (October 2025)

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