Earnings Per Share (Table) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 02, 2016	Apr. 04, 2015
Earnings Per Share Abstract
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	$ (9,663)	$ 5,954
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to SunOpta Inc	(570)	(720)
Earnings (loss) attributable to SunOpta Inc.	$ (10,233)	$ 5,234
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	85,425,943	67,399,642
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	85,425,943	68,268,166
Earnings (loss) per share - basic
from continuing operations basic	$ (0.11)	$ 0.09
from discontinued operations basic	(0.01)	(0.01)
Earnings Per Share Total	(0.12)	0.08
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted
from continuing operations diluted	(0.11)	0.09
from discontinued operations diluted	(0.01)	(0.01)
Earnings Per Share Diluted Total	$ (0.12)	$ 0.08
Warrant [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Including Options and Restrictive Stock Units	0	319,777
Options and RSU [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Including Options and Restrictive Stock Units	0	548,747