Forty-two activists with the Rainforest Action Network unfurled a banner reading "Warning: General Mills Destroys Rainforests'' on Tuesday outside the company's Golden Valley headquarters. They were protesting General Mills' use of palm oil in its food products.
The activists also have targeted Minnetonka-based Cargill Inc., a major producer of palm oil.
Global production of palm oil has risen in recent years, a trend that environmentalists say comes at the expense of tropical forests in Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.
"It was a nonevent; they were polite," General Mills spokesman Tom Forsythe said. "They seemed only interested in getting a photo. As soon as they had their photo, they left."
A Cargill spokesman said, "We believe Cargill is making important contributions to ensuring that palm oil is grown sustainably throughout the entire palm oil industry. We are committed to sustainable palm oil production."
