DEBT (Details)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended																			12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended									12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended						6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 May 2012 [Member] Amendment in July 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 January 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 January 2012 [Member] Amendment in July 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 First Quarter 2011 [Member] USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2011 Second Quarter 2011 [Member] USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2011 Third Quarter 2011, Event A [Member] USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2011 Third Quarter 2011, Event B [Member] USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2011 Fourth Quarter 2011 [Member] USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2012 January and May 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USA Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USA Segment [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 USA Segment [Member] July 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USA Segment [Member] January 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USA Segment [Member] Halpern Entities [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USA Segment [Member] Other Investors [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Brazil Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Brazil Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Senior Convertible Debentures, Net [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Senior Convertible Debentures, Net [Member] July 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Senior Convertible Debentures, Net [Member] Halpern Entities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Senior Convertible Debentures, Net [Member] USA Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Convertible Debentures, Net [Member] USA Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes, Net [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Subordinated Convertible Notes, Net [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes, Net [Member] July 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes, Net [Member] August 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes, Net [Member] May 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes, Net [Member] January 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes, Net [Member] January and May 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes, Net [Member] January and May 2012 [Member] Amendment in July 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes, Net [Member] July and August 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes, Net [Member] Halpern Entities [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes, Net [Member] USA Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Subordinated Convertible Notes, Net [Member] USA Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Factoring Agreement [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2011 Factoring Agreement [Member] USA Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Factoring Agreement [Member] USA Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Factoring Agreement [Member] USA Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Total [Member] USA Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Other [Member] USA Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Other [Member] USA Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Working Capital Lines of Credit [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Working Capital Lines of Credit [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] BRL	Dec. 31, 2011 Working Capital Lines of Credit [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Working Capital Lines of Credit [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Working Capital Lines of Credit [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Working Capital Lines of Credit [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] Average [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Capital Expansion Loans [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Capital Expansion Loans [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Capital Expansion Loans [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] BRL	Dec. 31, 2012 Equipment Financing [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Equipment Financing [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Equipment Financing [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Equipment Financing [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Equipment Financing [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] Average [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Advances on Export Letter of Credit [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Advances on Export Letter of Credit [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Advances on Export Letter of Credit [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Advances on Export Letter of Credit [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Advances on Export Letter of Credit [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] Average [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Special Tax Programs [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Special Tax Programs [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Special Tax Programs [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] New [Member] Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Special Tax Programs [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] New [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Special Tax Programs [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] Replacement [Member] Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Special Tax Programs [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] Replacement [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Capital Expansion Loan Agreement One [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] BRL	Dec. 31, 2011 Capital Expansion Loan Agreement Two [Member] Brazil Segment [Member] BRL	Jun. 30, 2012 Senior Convertible Debenture and Warrant [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Convertible Debenture and Warrant [Member] New [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Convertible Debenture and Warrant [Member] Replacement [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2012 Senior Convertible Debenture and Warrant [Member] USA Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Senior Convertible Debenture and Warrant [Member] USA Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Senior Convertible Debenture and Warrant [Member] USA Segment [Member] July 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Senior Convertible Debenture and Warrant [Member] USA Segment [Member] January 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes and Warrants [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes and Warrants [Member] January and May 2012 [Member] USD ($) Investors	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes and Warrants [Member] January and May 2012 [Member] Financial Advisor [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes and Warrants [Member] July and August 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes and Warrants [Member] July and August 2012 [Member] Financial Advisor [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes and Warrants [Member] Halpern Entities [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes and Warrants [Member] Halpern Entities [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes and Warrants [Member] Other Investors [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes and Warrants [Member] Other Investors [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Subordinated Convertible Notes and Warrants [Member] USA Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Subordinated Convertible Notes and Warrants [Member] USA Segment [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Convertible Debt [Member] USA Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Debenture [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Third Credit Agreement [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2012 Third Credit Agreement [Member] BRL
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt		$ 19,584,000	$ 14,725,000															$ 5,117,000	$ 2,895,000			$ 2,993,000	$ 1,048,000	$ 14,467,000	$ 11,830,000				$ 1,048,000	$ 0											$ 4,041,000	$ 2,126,000			$ 28,000	$ 262,000	$ 5,089,000	$ 0	$ 507,000	$ 2,227,000		$ 1,778,000				$ 5,555,000	$ 3,789,000		$ 201,000	$ 214,000				$ 2,331,000	$ 2,838,000				$ 4,153,000	$ 3,211,000
Current portion		8,003,000	6,792,000																			0	0						962,000																		962,000
Long-term portion		11,581,000	7,933,000																			2,993,000	1,048,000						86,000																		4,127,000
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
2013		8,232,000																1,219,000						7,013,000
2014		1,391,000																108,000						1,283,000
2015		6,461,000																5,375,000						1,086,000
2016		983,000																0						983,000
2017		976,000																0						976,000
Thereafter		3,126,000																0						3,126,000
Total debt		21,169,000					500,000	[1]	730,000	[2]	270,000	[2]	730,000	[2]	2,323,000	[3]		6,702,000				2,600,000	2,775,000	14,467,000			1,299,000		1,299,000				850,000	150,000	50,000	4,325,000											6,674,000																																							2,500,000		100,000						1,900,000		0
Issuance Date of Debt																											Jul. 31, 2012						Jul. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2012	May 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012
Principal amount of notes		21,169,000					500,000	[1]	730,000	[2]	270,000	[2]	730,000	[2]	2,323,000	[3]		6,702,000				2,600,000	2,775,000	14,467,000			1,299,000		1,299,000				850,000	150,000	50,000	4,325,000											6,674,000																																							2,500,000		100,000						1,900,000		0
Creditor's Debt Conversion Right (in dollars per share)																											$ 0.07						$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.07
Stated annual interest rate (in hundredths)							10.00%	[1]	10.00%	[2]	10.00%	[2]	10.00%	[2]	10.00%	[3]																	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%																12.40%	44.50%	23.30%		6.50%	6.50%			13.50%	21.50%	16.20%			3.70%	8.00%	5.60%	7.30%																												5.50%
Maturity date of debt				Jul. 31, 2015		Jul. 31, 2015																					Jan. 31, 2014						Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015														May 31, 2014	May 31, 2014					Dec. 31, 2021			Mar. 31, 2016					Jul. 31, 2013							Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2017																							Jul. 31, 2019
Face amount																				1,000,000							1,000,000										4,400,000		1,000,000	2,500,000
Cash investment exchanged																	100,000
Maximum borrowing capacity																																												1,000,000						1,800,000	3,600,000							4,700,000																	2,800,000	6,700,000
Monthly minimum charge																																												2,000
Factoring fee as a percentage of borrowing (in hundredths)																																												2.00%
Number of days outstanding before factoring fee percentage increases																																												45 years
Average outstanding borrowings																																											100,000		100,000
Discount rate used for calculating fair value of convertible notes (in hundredths)																																																																																													25.00%
Components of convertible debt [Abstract]
Principal outstanding		(21,169,000)					(500,000)	[1]	(730,000)	[2]	(270,000)	[2]	(730,000)	[2]	(2,323,000)	[3]		(6,702,000)				(2,600,000)	(2,775,000)	(14,467,000)			(1,299,000)		(1,299,000)				(850,000)	(150,000)	(50,000)	(4,325,000)											(6,674,000)																																							(2,500,000)		(100,000)						(1,900,000)		0
Discount																						587,000	2,775,000						422,000																		3,784,000																																														100,000
Derivative conversion liabilities																						(980,000)	(1,048,000)						(171,000)																		(2,199,000)
Debt		(19,584,000)	(14,725,000)															(5,117,000)	(2,895,000)			(2,993,000)	(1,048,000)	(14,467,000)	(11,830,000)				(1,048,000)	0											(4,041,000)	(2,126,000)			(28,000)	(262,000)	(5,089,000)	0	(507,000)	(2,227,000)		(1,778,000)				(5,555,000)	(3,789,000)		(201,000)	(214,000)				(2,331,000)	(2,838,000)				(4,153,000)	(3,211,000)
Debt - current portion		(8,003,000)	(6,792,000)																			0	0						(962,000)																		(962,000)
Debt - long-term portion		(11,581,000)	(7,933,000)																			(2,993,000)	(1,048,000)						(86,000)																		(4,127,000)
Convertible debt effective interest rate (in hundredths)																												25.10%												20.90%
Number of investors																																																																																					4
(Increases) decreases in [Abstract]
Debt - principal	(6,674,000)																																																																												(870,000)	(290,000)	(139,000)										(100,000)	(2,500,000)	(900,000)	(1,875,000)
Debt - discount	4,004,000																																																																												870,000	290,000	(661,000)										100,000	630,000	900,000	1,875,000
Debt - derivative conversion liabilities	(4,571,000)																																																																												(296,000)	(128,000)	(105,000)										(69,000)	(1,942,000)	(583,000)	(1,448,000)
Derivative warrant liabilities	(6,983,000)																																																																												(648,000)	(273,000)	(907,000)										(88,000)	(2,473,000)	(746,000)	(1,848,000)
Debt (carrying amount of old note)	2,152,000																																																																												0	0	0										0	2,152,000	0	0
Equity	1,089,000																																																																												0	0	0										0	1,089,000	0	0	500,000
Loss on extinguishment	4,941,000																																																																												0	0	1,955,000										0	2,986,000	0	0
Financing expense	2,184,000																																																																												168,000	141,000	27,000										59,000	0	413,000	1,376,000
Other long -term assets - deferred finance costs	295,000																																																																												144,000	23,000	(148,000)					(100,000)					4,000	65,000	73,000	134,000
Proceeds, net of finance costs	3,563,000																																																																												632,000	237,000	(22,000)	200,000									94,000	(7,000)	843,000	1,786,000	600,000
Convertibles notes and related warrants issued [Abstract]
Principal amount of notes		21,169,000					500,000	[1]	730,000	[2]	270,000	[2]	730,000	[2]	2,323,000	[3]		6,702,000				2,600,000	2,775,000	14,467,000			1,299,000		1,299,000				850,000	150,000	50,000	4,325,000											6,674,000																																							2,500,000		100,000						1,900,000		0
Stated annual interest rate (in hundredths)							10.00%	[1]	10.00%	[2]	10.00%	[2]	10.00%	[2]	10.00%	[3]																	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%																12.40%	44.50%	23.30%		6.50%	6.50%			13.50%	21.50%	16.20%			3.70%	8.00%	5.60%	7.30%																												5.50%
Per share note conversion price (in dollars per share)		$ 0.08	$ 0.21				$ 0.20	[1]	$ 0.23	[2]	$ 0.23	[2]	$ 0.23	[2]	$ 0.20	[3]
Cash received in transaction			2,280,000				500,000	[1]	230,000	[2]	270,000	[2]	730,000	[2]	550,000	[3]
Number of shares under warrant (in shares)			4,553,186				500,000	[1]	730,000	[2]	270,000	[2]	730,000	[2]	2,323,186	[3]
Average Exercise Price of warrants (in dollars per share)							$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.23	[2]	$ 0.23	[2]	$ 0.23	[2]	$ 0.22	[3]																					$ 0.12	$ 0.08
Equity	1,089,000																																																																												0	0	0										0	1,089,000	0	0	500,000
Other assets	(295,000)																																																																												(144,000)	(23,000)	148,000					100,000					(4,000)	(65,000)	(73,000)	(134,000)
Accreted interest on notes																															300,000	200,000
Principal payments																															0	0
Required number of days notice prior to conversion or exercise																																																																																															61 days
Minimum beneficial ownership interest to be required to give notice prior to conversion or exercise (in hundredths)																																																																																															4.99%
Principal percentage due each month (in hundredths)																																																																																		0.08333	0.08333
Monthly principal payment																					900,000																																																													1,300,000
Debenture conversion price - factor (in hundredths)																																																																																	80.00%
Number of days used to calculate the weighted average stock price																																																																																	20 days
Maximum shares limit percentage (in hundredths)																																																																																	20.00%
Number of trading days																																																																																	20 days
Fixed amount to subtract from weighted average price																																																																																	0.01
Contract value of old notes repaid		2,300,000
Proceeds from other debt		3,600,000			2,400,000																																																																												800,000				1,800,000		900,000							2,300,000
Proceeds allocated for convertible debt and warrants		3,600,000
Discount																						587,000	2,775,000						422,000																		3,784,000																																														100,000
Proceeds net of issuance costs	3,563,000																																																																												632,000	237,000	(22,000)	200,000									94,000	(7,000)	843,000	1,786,000	600,000
Debenture replacement description																																																																																																In the third quarter of 2012, this January 2012 debenture was exchanged for a July 2012 debenture with a stated principal amount of $1.0 million, representing the original principal amount plus interest which will accrue through the replacement debenture's January 2014 maturity. In July 2012, we also issued a new senior convertible debenture and related warrant and received $0.2 million in proceeds, net of financing costs. Each of the July 2012 debentures is convertible immediately at $0.07 per share. Commencing February 2013, we are required to redeem 1/12th of the $1.3 million combined principal each month until the January 2014 maturity date. In lieu of a cash redemption we may elect to redeem the debentures by issuing a number of shares of common stock equal to the monthly redemption amount divided by the lesser of (i) the current debenture conversion price or (ii) 80% of the 20-day volume weighted average trading price of our common stock or (iii) the volume weighted average trading price of our common stock on the day immediately prior to the redemption date less $0.01. The number of shares delivered may not exceed 20% of the number of shares traded in the 20-day trading period prior to payment. The debentures are secured by a senior interest in substantially all of our assets, excluding our interest in Nutra SA. Pursuant to the terms of the debentures, we may not pay any dividends while the debenture is outstanding. Under the terms of the original January 2012 debenture, we had been required to redeem 1/12th of the $0.9 million principal each month commencing August 2012 until the July 2013 maturity date.
Terms of conversion feature																										(i) the current debenture conversion price or (ii) 80% of the 20-day volume weighted average trading price of our common stock or (iii) the volume weighted average trading price of our common stock on the day immediately prior to the redemption date less $0.01.
Gain loss recognized																																0
Amount borrowed																																																																																																	900,000	1,700,000
Available for working capital																																																										1,500,000
Borrowing capacity, percentage of collateral, lower range limit (in hundredths)																																																		40.00%	40.00%
Borrowing capacity, percentage of collateral, upper range limit (in hundredths)																																																		100.00%	100.00%
Decrease in debt																																																																					300,000
Reduction in net operating losses																																																																					300,000
Gain (Loss) on special tax programs																																																																					$ 0

[1] The convertible note and the related warrant issued in the first quarter of 2011, were terminated and cancelled in the second quarter of 2011 when the second quarter transaction occurred.

[2] The convertible notes and related warrants issued in the second and third quarters of 2011, were terminated and cancelled in the fourth quarter of 2011 when the fourth quarter transaction occurred.

[3] The convertible notes and related warrants issued in the fourth quarter of 2011, were terminated and cancelled in the first quarter of 2012, when a subordinated convertible note was issued to the Halpern Entities, as described further below.