Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Note 1Accounting policies

Basis of presentation

The unaudited interim financial information of Kellogg Company (the Company) included in this report reflects normal recurring adjustments that management believes are necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations, comprehensive income, financial position, equity and cash flowsfor the periods presented. This interim information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying footnotes within the Company's 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The condensed balance sheet data at December 31, 2011 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The results of operations for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for other interim periods or the full year.

New accounting standards

Presentation of Comprehensive Income. In June 2011, the FASB issued a new accounting standard requiring most entities to present items of net income and other comprehensive income either in one continuous statement — referred to as the statement of comprehensive income — or in two separate, but consecutive, statements of net income and comprehensive income. The update does not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. The new standard included a requirement to present reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component on the face of the financial statements. In December, 2011, the reclassification requirement within the new standard was indefinitely deferred. The new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011 and was adopted by the Company on a retrospective basis at the beginning of its 2012 fiscal year.

Goodwill impairment testing. In September 2011, the FASB amended the ASC to allow entities the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. Under the updated standard an entity would not be required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. The updated standard is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 and will be adopted by the Company in connection with its annual goodwill impairment evaluation in the fourth quarter of 2012.