Business Segment Data (Net Sales and Gross Profit by Product) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jul. 01, 2011	Apr. 01, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Oct. 01, 2010	Jul. 02, 2010	Apr. 02, 2010	Dec. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jan. 01, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 780.8	$ 795.2	$ 1,039.7	$ 974.0	$ 816.7	[1]	$ 793.1	$ 1,000.0	$ 943.1	$ 3,589.7	$ 3,552.9	$ 3,496.4
Gross Profit	30.9	62.9	102.9	122.8	39.6	[1]	52.0	83.0	97.8	319.5	272.4	310.8
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,022.9				1,033.1					1,022.9	1,033.1
Assets	2,504.0				2,517.7					2,504.0	2,517.7
Banana [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales										1,653.1	1,620.3	1,510.9
Gross Profit										88.3	31.4	108.7
Other Fresh Produce [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales										1,581.6	1,572.8	1,648.1
Gross Profit										177.9	195.4	149.9
Property, plant and equipment, net			6.6
Prepared Food [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales										355.0	359.8	337.4
Gross Profit										53.3	45.6	52.2
Maritime Equipment (Including Containers) [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	24.8				24.7					24.8	24.7
Assets	43.0				47.2					43.0	47.2
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	94.1				108.1					94.1	108.1
NORTH AMERICA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales										1,806.8	1,741.3	1,675.9
Property, plant and equipment, net	73.9				75.3					73.9	75.3
Assets	316.9				358.6					316.9	358.6
EUROPE [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales										854.8	913.8	995.2
Property, plant and equipment, net	58.7				76.7					58.7	76.7
Assets	432.6				401.4					432.6	401.4
Middle East [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales										429.2	421.1	314.1
Property, plant and equipment, net	165.0				155.6					165.0	155.6
Assets	298.4				271.4					298.4	271.4
ASIA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales										431.5	411.1	420.2
Property, plant and equipment, net	21.7				26.5					21.7	26.5
Assets	148.4				144.4					148.4	144.4
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales										67.4	65.6	91.0
AFRICA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	33.2				33.8					33.2	33.8
Assets	104.0				120.2					104.0	120.2
CENTRAL AMERICA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	519.0				513.0					519.0	513.0
Assets	850.0				836.7					850.0	836.7
SOUTH AMERICA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	114.5				115.0					114.5	115.0
Assets	216.6				229.7					216.6	229.7
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	$ 12.1				$ 12.5					$ 12.1	$ 12.5

[1] Diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended December 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 excludes the impact of stock options of 208,152 and 203,104 shares, respectively, as they were antidilutive.