[Turtle]

Dear Miss DuPree:


Thank you for contacting General Mills regarding your dissatisfaction with the recent reformulation of Cocoa Puffs reduced sugar cereal.


Our goal is to give consumers quality products at a good value. Prior to introducing any product, extensive consumer testing is done. We conduct market research and product testing continuously to obtain consumer reaction to existing products and to changes being considered. Only when we feel confident that a product change will broaden its appeal will we alter a product’s formulation. We are sorry that you do not agree that the recent change in Cocoa Puffs reduced sugar cereal was for the better.

We will be sending an adjustment for your purchase to the address you provided. Please allow 7 to 10 business days to receive the adjustment.


We appreciate your loyalty to General Mills and hope you continue to choose our products.



Sincerely,



Kristi Goodman

General Mills

Consumer Services

[Mahee34]

I mean...did anyone even notice a difference in taste? They didn't make THAT drastic a change that it was substaintially noticeable.....that's ridiculous

[jerseyangel]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

[Turtle]

The concern and why we're all so distraught is not about the taste it's that the new boxes of cocoa puffs coming out now say this:

"Boxes Dated Apr 2007 list WHEAT both in the ingredients and the allergy statement line"!

[VydorScope]

Bull.

Wheat is the very last ingredient (or very close to it) in the list, it has no impact on flavor. I know as I do not have celiac disease and I have eaten both, and noticed no difference. BAH.

[Turtle]

Thanks again VydorScope for alerting us to this change....you saved a TON of people from getting SICK!

Have a good weekend!

[Michi8]

Typical canned response from GM. I got a similar type of response from Kraft when I asked why they recently removed their webpage that listed gluten-free & DF products. I keep sending them my email with the specific question, and they keep dancing around it...I think I'm going to keep emailing until they respond properly.

Michelle

[VydorScope]

My reply to GM who also sent me the same reply..

Quote

General Mills,

How can ANY change in a product that, especially one without any warning, will make many people extremely ill be "for the better"? Why take a product that was recently made SAFE to consume and make it literally poisonous to a segment of the population? I can not be "loyal" to GM if you continue to make your foods that were once safe, poisonous to my son. How am I to explain to a three year old that his favorite cereal is poison now?

To say I am extremely upset with General Mills right now would be a huge understatement.

[jenvan]

Obviously not paying real attention to the compliant--hence the bit on loyalty and continuing to choose our products

[CarlaB]

My reply was even more pathetic. I wrote her back and said I couldn't eat their products because of the wheat, was she intentionally being rude?


Thank you for contacting General Mills about Cocoa Puffs cereal. We appreciate the time you have taken to share your comments.

We hope you will continue to choose our products.

Sincerely,

Kristi Goodman



General Mills

Consumer Services

[2Boys4Me]

Turtle, on Sep 14 2006, 09:29 AM, said:

Dear Miss DuPree:

Thank you for contacting General Mills regarding your dissatisfaction with the recent reformulation of Cocoa Puffs reduced sugar cereal.

Our goal is to give consumers quality products at a good value. Prior to introducing any product, extensive consumer testing is done. We conduct market research and product testing continuously to obtain consumer reaction to existing products and to changes being considered. Only when we feel confident that a product change will broaden its appeal will we alter a product’s formulation. We are sorry that you do not agree that the recent change in Cocoa Puffs reduced sugar cereal was for the better.

We will be sending an adjustment for your purchase to the address you provided. Please allow 7 to 10 business days to receive the adjustment.

We appreciate your loyalty to General Mills and hope you continue to choose our products.

Sincerely,

Kristi Goodman
General Mills
Consumer Services

I was just wondering if you wrote back to Kristi to say you were pleased with the FIRST formula change 6 months ago, it's the new one you're concerned about.

I'm also curious how many people sent in thank you emails when they made the original change from gluten to gluten free vs how many are sending in notes that they are disappointed/angry about the change back.

We can't get Cocoa Puffs in Canada, so we could only get them if my husband could find a gluten-free version in the states when he's there on business.

[Mahee34]

Turtle, on Sep 14 2006, 12:10 PM, said:

The concern and why we're all so distraught is not about the taste it's that the new boxes of cocoa puffs coming out now say this:

"Boxes Dated Apr 2007 list WHEAT both in the ingredients and the allergy statement line"!

...I realize we're distraught because of the sudden addition to WHEAT at the bottom of the box. I simply meant by my earlier comment....why re-add the wheat? The taste between the first formula and the non gluten free formala was hardly noticeable, so I'm confused as to how this addition of the wheat is considered more popular for their customers, when I honestly believe that most people who aren't gluten free probably never even noticed the change in the formula! I knokw my friends and family certainly didn't, they were even suprised that there was no noticeable change in the taste of cocoa puffs...

[hez]

Well, at least you got a response! They have not bothered to contact me Although maybe it is just as well, it would only anger me further

Hez

[VydorScope]

hez, on Sep 14 2006, 05:17 PM, said:

Well, at least you got a response! They have not bothered to contact me Although maybe it is just as well, it would only anger me further

Hez

Took four days for me to get a reply, so you might get yours yet.