19/01/2010 (Twin Cities) - Protesters unfurled a giant banner in front of General Mills' corporate headquarters in Golden Valley on Tuesday, accusing the food maker of using palm oil from suppliers that destroy rainforests.

About 40 protesters from the Rainforest Action Network walked onto General Mills' property, held up a banner, and posed for a photograph taken from a hired helicopter. Although security guards arrived to check out the protest, there was no confrontation.

"They seemed to be all about getting a photo, and they left," said General Mills spokesman Tom Forsythe.

Some General Mills products do contain palm oil but, Forsythe said, the company has committed to using palm oil only from companies belonging to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, a group that brings together growers, users, environmentalists and bankers, working toward the goal of a sustainable palm oil supply. Most palm oil originates in southeast Asia.

"General Mills shares concern about palm oil exports, particularly in regard to expanding into tropical rainforests," Forsythe said, adding that "we have been engaged in the issue" with suppliers.

The Rainforest Action Network said that growing demand for palm oil in recent years has fueled destruction of tropical rainforests in Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. A spokeswoman called on General Mills "to be more transparent about their standards" in purchasing only sustainably grown palm oil.

Until then, said spokeswoman Margaret Swink, We'll be doing more fun and games" to pressure General Mills.