The Response I Got From

[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..

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Guest nini]

other than the original canned response that my concern was being forwarded, I haven't heard a thing... what is disturbing is that they don't seem the slightest bit concerned that WHEAT is POISON to so many of us. They don't GET that so many of us would be loyal customers and would buy in mass quantities if they made a safe product. I still haven't had the heart to tell my daughter that they changed the formula again just after finding the safe boxes. So the ones I have on my shelf are probably it for us. I also am running out of the stockpile of Krogers Corn Nuggets (like Corn Pops) that I bought when they changed their formula to include wheat starch. This is ridiculous. Someone has got to make them aware of what they are doing. Alienating an entire group of people for what? An inconsequential taste difference to those people who aren't gluten-free? I don't get it.

[Turtle]

...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...

Ok, gotcha! No worries! And I agree that what's the need to add the devil (wheat) back into the cereal when like you said it does't effect the taste! I just don't get it!!

And Nini: I agree!

[eKatherine]

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.

what is disturbing is that they don't seem the slightest bit concerned that WHEAT is POISON to so many of us. They don't GET that so many of us would be loyal customers and would buy in mass quantities if they made a safe product.

They are trying to broaden the appeal of the product. It has nothing to do with taste. They did marketing research that showed them that the number of celiacs who were no longer able to buy the product is smaller than the number of people who will be sucked in by the bogus claim of "multi-grian" because they added wheat starch.

[chrissy]

they sent me a totally different response----i'll see if i can figure out how to post it on here.

Dear Mrs. Heiner:

Thank you for contacting General Mills regarding gluten in our our cereal.

It is our goal to help our consumers determine whether or not they can include our products in their diet. To accurately accomplish this, we believe it is best to refer to the specific ingredients listed on each product package.

However, we do understand that ingredients can be confusing, so we want to assure you if the ingredient label does not list wheat, barley, rye, oats or gluten containing ingredients sourced from these grains, then the product would be gluten-free. Sources of gluten are listed on the label even if the source of gluten is part of another ingredient (such as flavoring or spice). Because ingredients may vary from one package to another due to product reformulation, you should use the product’s ingredient label to provide you with current and accurate information.

Additional information regarding gluten may be obtained by contacting your health care professional or:

Celiac Sprue Association/United States of America, Inc.

PO Box 31700

Omaha, NE 68131-0700

402-558-0600

Or toll free: 877-CSA-4-CSA (877-272-4272)

www.csaceliacs.org

We hope this information is helpful.

Sincerely,

Jenny Path

General Mills

Consumer Services

>Original Message From: kevheiner@msn.com

>

>Originated by Consumer please, please, please, don't take your gluten free cereals away from my celiac daughters!!!!!! it has been so nice to be able to go into any grocery store and buy mainstream cereal for my kids. they really like trix and cocoa puffs. i am so upset that you are changing your formula again!!!!! christine heiner :

[VydorScope]

Chrissy I got that reply in addtion to the other one. I ingore that one though and replied to Kristi.

[VydorScope]

LOL I jsut got a THIRD reply to my orginal email...

Dear Consumer:

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

If there is anything else we can do concerning this manner, please let us know.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Dew

General Mills

Consumer Services

They get more useless with each reply

[hez]

I finally got a response saying they will respond

Hez

Thank you for contacting us.

Your message is being forwarded to a Consumer Services Representative who will review your inquiry and reply. Please be assured that we will respond to you as quickly as we can.

General Mills Consumer Services

[floridanative]

Unless there is a boycott of their products that takes real money out of their pockets, they are not likely to care what anyone who can't eat gluten thinks. This is not good news for us, but true none the less. Same thing is true with all the biggest companies. I do think Kraft wants everyone's business and therefore, at least labels their products so we can clearly know if it's safe for us or not.

[BamBam]

iT'S THE BIG "WHOLE GRAIN" KICK. Somehow adding wheat starch makes it more WHOLE GRAIN?"

Give me a break! I've written them three times and I've asked for my money back on two boxes that I opened. I have yet to get a response.

BamBam