Earnings Per Share (Table) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2017	Jul. 02, 2016	Jul. 01, 2017	Jul. 02, 2016
Earnings Per Share Abstract
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	$ (408)	$ (4,124)	$ (11,806)	$ (13,787)
Dividends and accretion on Series A Preferred Stock	(1,954)	0	(3,894)	0
Earning (loss) from continuing operations available to common shareholders	(2,362)	(4,124)	(15,700)	(13,787)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to SunOpta Inc	0	0	0	(570)
Earnings (loss) available to common shareholders	$ (2,362)	$ (4,124)	$ (15,700)	$ (14,357)
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	86,213,000	85,541,000	86,062,000	85,483,000
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Including Options and Restrictive Stock Units	0	0	0	0
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	86,213,000	85,541,000	86,062,000	85,483,000
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	2,530,766	3,187,777	2,836,606	3,184,777
Earnings (loss) per share - basic
from continuing operations basic	$ (0.03)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.16)
from discontinued operations basic	0	0	0	(0.01)
Earnings Per Share Total	(0.03)	(0.05)	(0.18)	(0.17)
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted
from continuing operations diluted	(0.03)	(0.05)	(0.18)	(0.16)
from discontinued operations diluted	0	0	0	(0.01)
Earnings Per Share Diluted Total	$ (0.03)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.17)
Options Held [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	0	0	0
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	832,910	16,304	761,344	17,288
Series A Preferred Stock [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	0	0	0
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	11,333,333		11,333,333