Series B1 Preferred Stock (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2022	Oct. 02, 2021	Oct. 01, 2022	Oct. 02, 2021
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Dividends paid	$ 609	$ 609	$ 1,827	$ 4,638
Preferred stock accretion to redemption value	$ 155	$ 139	$ 452	576
Series B-1 Preferred Stock [Member] | Sunopta Foods [Member]
Temporary Equity [Line Items]
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued	30,000		30,000
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference Per Share	$ 1,015		$ 1,015
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference, Value	$ 30,400		$ 30,400
Preferred Stock, Convertible, Terms			At any time, the Series B-1 preferred stock may be exchanged, in whole or in part, into the number of shares of the Company's common stock ("Common Shares") equal to, per share of Series B-1 preferred stock, the quotient of the liquidation preference divided by an exchange price of $2.50. On or after April 24, 2023, SunOpta Foods may cause the holders of the Series B-1 preferred stock to exchange all of their shares of Series B-1 preferred stock if the volume-weighted average price of the Common Shares during the then preceding 20 trading day period is greater than 200% of the exchange price then in effect.
Preferred Stock, Dividend Payment Terms			Preferred dividends accrue daily on the Series B-1 preferred stock at an annualized rate of 8.0% of the liquidation preference prior to September 30, 2029, and 10.0% of the liquidation preference thereafter.
Dividends paid			$ 600
Accrued Unpaid Dividends			$ 600
Preferred Stock, Redemption Terms			At any time on or after April 24, 2025, SunOpta Foods may redeem all of the Series B-1 preferred stock for an amount per share equal to the value of the liquidation preference at such time, plus accrued and unpaid dividends.
Preferred stock accretion to redemption value			$ 500	$ 400