Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 28, 2014

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 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The condensed balance sheet data at December 28, 2013 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 June 28, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for other interim periods or the full year.

Accounts payable

Beginning in 2014, the Company has an agreement with a third party to provide an accounts payable tracking system which facilitates participating suppliers' ability to monitor, and if elected, sellto designated third-party financial institutions, payment obligations of the Company.  Participating suppliers may, at their sole discretion, make offers to sell one or more payment obligations of the Company prior to their scheduled due dates at a discounted price to participating financial institutions.  The Company's goal in entering into this agreement is to capture overall supplier savings, in the form of pricing, payment terms or vendor funding, created by facilitating suppliers' ability to sellreceivables, while providing them with greater working capital flexibility. We have no economic interest in the sale of these suppliers' receivables and no direct financial relationship with the financial institutions concerning these services. The Company's obligations to its suppliers, including amounts due and scheduled payment dates, are not impacted by suppliers' decisions to sell amounts under this arrangement.  However, the Company's right to offset balances due from suppliers against payment obligations is restricted by this agreement for those payment obligations that have been sold by suppliers.  As of June 28, 2014, $142 million of the Company's outstanding payment obligations had been placed in the accounts payable tracking system, and participating suppliers had sold $114 million of those payment obligations to participating financial institutions.

New accounting standards

Presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an Accounting Standards Update (ASU) which provides guidance on financial statement presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. This ASU is expected to eliminate diversity in practice resulting from lack of previously existing guidance. It applies to all entities with unrecognized tax benefits that also have tax loss or tax credit carryforwards in the same tax jurisdiction as of the reporting date. The Company adopted the revised guidance on a prospective basis at the beginning of its 2014 fiscal year, with no significant impact to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Accounting standards to be adopted in future periods

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an Accounting Standards Update (ASU) which provides guidance for accounting for revenue from contracts with customers. The core principle of this ASU is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, an entity would be required to apply the following five steps: 1)identify the contract(s) with a customer; 2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; 3) determine the transaction price; 4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and 5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. Entities will have the option to apply the final standard retrospectively or use a modified retrospective method, recognizing the cumulative effect of the ASU in retained earnings at the date of initial application. An entity will not restate prior periods if it uses the modified retrospective method, but will be required to disclose the amount by which each financial statement line item is affected in the current reporting period by the application of the ASU as compared to the guidance in effect prior to the change, as well as reasons for significant changes. The Company will adopt the updated standard in the first quarter of 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that implementing this ASU will have on its financial statements and disclosures, as well as whether it will use the retrospective or modified retrospective method of adoption.