Segment Reporting (Restated) - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2013 Segment	Aug. 31, 2012	Feb. 28, 2013 Carolina Starches, LLC [Member]	Feb. 28, 2013 Carolina Starches, LLC [Member] Australia and New Zealand Discontinued Operations [Member]	Feb. 29, 2012 Carolina Starches, LLC [Member] Australia and New Zealand Discontinued Operations [Member]	Feb. 28, 2013 Carolina Starches, LLC [Member] Australia and New Zealand Discontinued Operations [Member]	Feb. 29, 2012 Carolina Starches, LLC [Member] Australia and New Zealand Discontinued Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of segments	2
Consolidated assets related to the acquisition	$ 237,514,000	$ 236,179,000	$ 11,500,000
Industrial Ingredients revenues				$ 6,500,000	$ 3,600,000	$ 11,800,000	$ 3,600,000