20/01/2010 (Cool Earth) - A rainforest protection group has accused the US food maker General Mill of using unsustainable palm oil in its production.

The firm, based in Minneapolis, makes food including Cheerios cereal and also owns brands including Pillsbury, Betty Crocker and Toaster Strudel.

According to the Rainforest Action Network, the company uses palm oil from unsustainable sources and is therefore contributing to deforestation in the world's rainforests.

The production of palm oil - which is used in products including make up and in the production of some food items - is one of the leading causes of rainforest deforestation in Malaysia.

The network urged the company to change its stance on palm oil use and pointed out that as such a large firm, it could have "a huge impact on changing the food industry for good".

However, a spokesperson for General Mills has said that while the firm does use palm oil, it "has committed to using palm oil only from companies belonging to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil".