Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 305,275	$ 312,652
Cost of goods sold	277,069	278,968
Gross profit	28,206	33,684
Selling, general and administrative expenses	26,248	28,288
Intangible asset amortization	2,742	2,771
Other income, net	(43,512)	(402)
Foreign exchange loss (gain)	(1,104)	962
Earnings before the following	43,832	2,065
Interest expense, net	8,739	8,220
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	35,093	(6,155)
Provision for (recovery of) income taxes	9,498	(1,693)
Net earnings (loss)	25,595	(4,462)
Earnings attributable to non-controlling interests	(54)	(99)
Earnings (loss) attributable to SunOpta Inc.	25,649	(4,363)
Dividends and accretion on Series A Preferred Stock	(1,995)	(1,967)
Earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders	$ 23,654	$ (6,330)
Earnings (loss) per share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.27	$ (0.07)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.26	$ (0.07)