Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2012		Jan. 25, 2012	Oct. 26, 2011	Jul. 27, 2011	Apr. 27, 2011		Jan. 26, 2011	Oct. 27, 2010	Jul. 28, 2010	Apr. 29, 2012		Apr. 27, 2011		Apr. 28, 2010
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales	$ 3,049,589		$ 2,918,077	$ 2,831,832	$ 2,849,581	$ 2,888,790		$ 2,722,350	$ 2,614,623	$ 2,480,825	$ 11,649,079		$ 10,706,588		$ 10,494,983
Operating income (loss)											1,451,168		1,648,190		1,559,228
Productivity initiatives	(112,700)		(33,800)	(37,300)	(40,500)						(224,317)	[1]	0	[1]	(37,665)	[1]
Gain on property disposal in the Netherlands											0	[2]	0	[2]	14,977	[2]
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses											342,793		298,660		299,050
Capital expenditures											418,734	[3]	335,646	[3]	277,642	[3]
Identifiable Assets	11,983,293					12,230,645					11,983,293		12,230,645		10,075,711
Long Lived Assets	7,168,359					7,402,308					7,168,359		7,402,308		6,160,428
Ketchup and Sauces [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											5,232,607		4,607,971		4,446,911
Meals and Snacks [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											4,479,502		4,282,318		4,289,977
Infant/Nutrition [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											1,232,248		1,175,438		1,157,982
Other Products [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											704,722		640,861		600,113
Total North America [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses											133,589		123,817		122,774
Capital expenditures											103,958	[3]	101,001	[3]	88,841	[3]
Identifiable Assets	3,394,387					3,633,276					3,394,387		3,633,276		3,532,477
North American Consumer Products [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											3,241,533		3,265,857		3,192,219
Operating income (loss)											812,056		832,719		771,497
Europe [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											3,441,282		3,236,800		3,332,619
Operating income (loss)											608,829		581,148		554,300
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses											98,384		91,222		105,684
Capital expenditures											113,420	[3]	97,964	[3]	74,095	[3]
Identifiable Assets	4,158,349					4,398,944					4,158,349		4,398,944		3,815,179
Asia Pacific [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											2,568,716		2,320,789		2,007,252
Operating income (loss)											206,306		221,580		195,261
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses											63,102		53,326		46,976
Capital expenditures											99,912	[3]	71,419	[3]	46,105	[3]
Identifiable Assets	2,544,332					2,424,739					2,544,332		2,424,739		1,869,591
U.S. Foodservice [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											1,418,970		1,413,456		1,429,511
Operating income (loss)											166,298		175,977		150,628
Rest of World [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											978,578		469,686		533,382
Operating income (loss)											105,080		53,371		69,219
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses											19,290		6,324		6,638
Capital expenditures											38,539	[3]	12,829	[3]	11,785	[3]
Identifiable Assets	1,145,696					1,149,802					1,145,696		1,149,802		276,902
Non-Operating [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Operating income (loss)											(223,084)	[4]	(216,605)	[4]	(158,989)	[4]
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses											28,428	[4]	23,971	[4]	16,978	[4]
Capital expenditures											62,905	[3],[4]	52,433	[3],[4]	56,816	[3],[4]
Identifiable Assets	740,529	[5]				623,884	[5]				740,529	[5]	623,884	[5]	581,562	[5]
United States [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											3,958,259		3,991,344		3,993,692
Long Lived Assets	2,419,518					2,425,446					2,419,518		2,425,446		2,403,078
United Kingdom [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											1,611,177		1,506,607		1,519,278
Long Lived Assets	1,207,918					1,245,047					1,207,918		1,245,047		1,151,660
Other Country [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											6,079,643		5,208,637		4,982,013
Long Lived Assets	$ 3,540,923					$ 3,731,815					$ 3,540,923		$ 3,731,815		$ 2,605,690

[1] See Note 3 for further details on Fiscal 2012 productivity initiatives. Fiscal 2010 includes costs associated with targeted workforce reductions and asset write-offs, that were part of a corporation-wide initiative to improve productivity. The asset write-offs related to two factory closures and the exit of a formula business in the U.K.

[2] Includes payments received from the government in the Netherlands net of estimated costs to exit the facility. See Note 4 for additional explanation.

[3] Excludes property, plant and equipment obtained through acquisitions.

[4] Includes corporate overhead, intercompany eliminations and charges not directly attributable to operating segments.

[5] Includes identifiable assets not directly attributable to operating segments.