Segment Information (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment information
Number of reportable business segments | item										4
Net sales	$ 1,437	$ 1,485	$ 1,457	$ 1,453	$ 1,399	$ 1,489	$ 1,455	$ 1,360		$ 5,832	$ 5,704	$ 5,621
Subtotal										884	830	705
Restructuring charges	(10)	(5)	(5)	(11)	(2)	$ (2)	$ (10)			(38)	(19)	(28)
Acquisition / integration costs	(1)	$ (1)		(1)	(1)			$ (1)		(4)	(3)	(10)
Charge for fair value markup of acquired inventory			$ (3)	$ (3)						(9)		(10)
Insurance settlement										9
Litigation settlement												(7)
Gain from sale of land												10
Total operating income										842	808	660
Financing costs, net										73	66	61
Income before income taxes										769	742	599
Expense relating to tax indemnification agreement												4
Income tax indemnification expense income tax provision												4
Other restructuring charges including refinement of prior year restructuring activities										2
Total Assets	6,080				5,782					6,080	5,782
Depreciation and amortization										209	196	194
Mechanical stores expense										57	57	57
Capital expenditures										314	284	280
Write-off of impaired goodwill	0				0				$ 0
Long-lived assets	2,360				2,237					2,360	2,237
US
Segment information
Net sales										2,191	2,117	1,983
Long-lived assets	977				955					977	955
MEXICO
Segment information
Net sales										952	955	945
Long-lived assets	306				303					306	303
BRAZIL
Segment information
Net sales										519	522	452
Long-lived assets	235				245					235	245
CANADA
Segment information
Net sales										385	375	417
Long-lived assets	179				147					179	147
KOREA
Segment information
Net sales										275	266	276
Long-lived assets	109				84					109	84
THAILAND
Segment information
Long-lived assets	137				119					137	119
GERMANY
Segment information
Long-lived assets	133				106					133	106
Other Countries
Segment information
Net sales										1,510	1,469	1,548
Long-lived assets	284				278					284	278
Operating Segments | North America
Segment information
Net sales										3,529	3,447	3,345
Subtotal										661	610	479
Total Assets	3,967				3,796					3,967	3,796
Depreciation and amortization										140	130	123
Mechanical stores expense										37	37	36
Capital expenditures										180	167	158
Operating Segments | South America
Segment information
Net sales										1,007	1,010	1,013
Subtotal										80	89	101
Total Assets	812				809					812	809
Depreciation and amortization										27	26	30
Mechanical stores expense										12	12	13
Capital expenditures										50	56	61
Operating Segments | Asia Pacific
Segment information
Net sales										740	709	733
Subtotal										112	111	107
Total Assets	774				697					774	697
Depreciation and amortization										25	23	23
Mechanical stores expense										5	5	5
Capital expenditures										51	41	36
Operating Segments | EMEA
Segment information
Net sales										556	538	530
Subtotal										113	106	93
Total Assets	527				$ 480					527	480
Depreciation and amortization										17	17	18
Mechanical stores expense										3	3	3
Capital expenditures										33	20	25
Corporate, Non -Segment
Segment information
Subtotal										(82)	(86)	(75)
Expense relating to tax indemnification agreement												4
Income tax indemnification expense income tax provision												4
Argentina employee-related severance
Segment information
Restructuring charges										(17)
Stevia Leaf Extraction Process in Brazil
Segment information
Restructuring charges	$ (13)									(13)
Finance transformation initiative in North America
Segment information
Restructuring charges										(6)
Finance transformation initiative in North America | Employee Severance related costs
Segment information
Restructuring charges										$ (3)
IT transformation | Employee Severance And Other Costs
Segment information
Restructuring charges											(11)
Optimization Initiative Of North And South America | Employee Severance related costs
Segment information
Restructuring charges											(6)
Port Colborne Ontario Canada Plant | Facility Closing
Segment information
Restructuring charges											$ (2)
Port Colborne Ontario Canada Plant | Facility Closing | CANADA
Segment information
Restructuring charges												(4)
Plant Closing In Trombudo Central And Conchal | Facility Closing
Segment information
Restructuring charges												(12)
Penford
Segment information
Restructuring charges												$ (12)