<ARTICLE>                         5
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from our Form
10-Q for the  thirty-nine  week period ended February 27, 2000, and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                               9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                     MAY-28-2000
<PERIOD-START>                        MAY-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                          FEB-27-2000
<CASH>                                 47,500,000
<SECURITIES>                                    0
<RECEIVABLES>                         481,700,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                    0
<INVENTORY>                           529,600,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    1,238,700,000
<PP&E>                              2,903,000,000
<DEPRECIATION>                     (1,505,600,000)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                      4,596,700,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>               2,337,300,000
<BONDS>                             1,641,800,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0
<PREFERRED>                                     0
<COMMON>                              670,200,000
<OTHER-SE>                           (635,500,000)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>        4,596,700,000
<SALES>                             5,010,400,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                    5,010,400,000
<CGS>                               2,000,200,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                       2,000,200,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    103,300,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                       782,300,000
<INCOME-TAX>                          277,900,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                   505,500,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                  0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 0
<CHANGES>                                       0
<NET-INCOME>                          505,500,000
<EPS-BASIC>                                  1.67 <F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                1.62 <F1>
<FN>
On September 27, 1999, the company's board of directors declared a 2-for-1 split
of General  Mills  common stock for  shareholders  of record on October 8, 1999,
payable November 8, 1999.
All share and per share  data have been  adjusted  to reflect  the stock  split.
Prior Financial Data Schedules have not been restated for the stock split.
</FN>