Business Segmentation and Geographical Distribution (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013
Net sales	$ 15,313,179us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 10,160,964us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Cost of sales	9,987,514us-gaap_CostOfRevenue	7,027,828us-gaap_CostOfRevenue
Gross profit (loss)	5,325,665us-gaap_GrossProfit	3,133,136us-gaap_GrossProfit
Sales and marketing	2,136,584us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense	2,357,605us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense
General and administrative	8,374,601us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	5,117,016us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Loss from investment in affiliate	45,829cdxc_LossFromEquityInvestment	44,961cdxc_LossFromEquityInvestment
Operating expenses	10,557,014us-gaap_OperatingExpenses	7,519,582us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
Operating income (loss)	(5,231,349)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(4,386,446)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
CoreStandardsContractServices [Member]
Net sales	7,487,189	6,643,832
Cost of sales	5,141,667	4,893,649
Gross profit (loss)	2,345,522	1,750,183
Sales and marketing	975,800	1,459,620
General and administrative
Loss from investment in affiliate
Operating expenses	975,800	1,459,620
Operating income (loss)	1,369,722	290,563
Ingredients Segment [Member]
Net sales	6,857,177	2,430,699
Cost of sales	4,257,347	1,501,187
Gross profit (loss)	2,599,830	929,512
Sales and marketing	1,081,209	752,121
General and administrative
Loss from investment in affiliate
Operating expenses	1,081,209	752,121
Operating income (loss)	1,518,621	177,391
Regulatory Consulting [Member]
Net sales	968,813	1,146,718
Cost of sales	588,500	632,037
Gross profit (loss)	380,313	514,681
Sales and marketing	79,575	14,705
General and administrative
Loss from investment in affiliate
Operating expenses	79,575	14,705
Operating income (loss)	300,738	499,976
Other Segment [Member]
Net sales		(60,285)
Cost of sales		955
Gross profit (loss)		(61,240)
Sales and marketing		131,159
General and administrative	8,374,601	5,117,016
Loss from investment in affiliate	45,829	44,961
Operating expenses	8,420,430	5,293,136
Operating income (loss)	$ (8,420,430)	$ (5,354,376)

No authoritative reference available.

No definition available.

Name:	cdxc_LossFromEquityInvestment
Namespace Prefix:	cdxc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate cost of goods produced and sold and services rendered during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 2

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CostOfRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate total of expenses of managing and administering the affairs of an entity, including affiliates of the reporting entity, which are not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue less cost of goods and services sold or operating expenses directly attributable to the revenue generation activity.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GrossProfit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Generally recurring costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales or services. Includes selling, general and administrative expense.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate total amount of expenses directly related to the marketing or selling of products or services.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=cdxc_CoreStandardsContractServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=cdxc_IngredientsSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=cdxc_OtherSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=cdxc_ScientificRegulatoryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: