COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 25, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES We are a party to many routine contracts in which we provide general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. Among other considerations, we have not recorded a liability for any of these indemnities as based upon the likelihood of payment, the fair value of such indemnities would not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of business. In the Company’s opinion, it has made appropriate and adequate accruals for claims where necessary; however, the ultimate liability for these matters is uncertain, and if significantly different than the amounts accrued, the ultimate outcome could have a material effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company. For a discussion of the material legal proceedings and claims, see Part II, Item 1. “Legal Proceedings.” Below is a summary of some of these material proceedings and claims. The Company believes it has substantial defenses to the claims made and intends to vigorously defend these cases. Tax Claims and Proceedings In 2009, the IRS asserted claims against the Company totaling $74.7 million. We entered into two Stipulations of Settled Issues agreements with the IRS on December 12, 2012 that accounted for approximately $29.3 million of the claims and should result in no additional tax due. In connection with the remaining $45.4 million claimed by the IRS, we filed a petition in the U.S. Tax Court (“Tax Court”) on May 26, 2010 in response to a Notice of Deficiency that was issued to the Company as the successor in interest to Gold Kist. The Notice of Deficiency and the Tax Court proceeding related to an ordinary loss that Gold Kist claimed for its tax year ended June 26, 2004. On December 11, 2013, the Tax Court issued its opinion in the Tax Court case holding the loss that Gold Kist claimed for its tax year ended June 26, 2004 was capital in nature. On April 14, 2014, the Company appealed the Tax Court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law to the Fifth Circuit. On February 25, 2015, the Fifth Circuit issued its opinion, which reversed the Tax Court’s judgment and rendered judgment in favor of the Company. The IRS did not appeal the Fifth Circuit’s decision, which has become final. On September 14, 2016, the Tax Court issued an order and decision that vacated its prior decision and held that the Company is not liable for any additional tax in connection with this matter. ERISA Claims and Proceedings Claims have been brought against certain current and former directors, executive officers and employees of the Company, the Pilgrim’s Pride Administrative Committee and the Pilgrim’s Pride Pension Committee seeking unspecified damages under section 502 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. §1132. These claims were brought by individual participants in the Pilgrim’s Pride Retirement Savings Plan, individually and on behalf of a putative class, alleging that the defendants breached fiduciary duties to plan participants and beneficiaries or otherwise violated ERISA. Although the Company is not a named defendant in these claims, our bylaws require us to indemnify our current and former directors and officers from any liabilities and expenses incurred by them in connection with actions they took in good faith while serving as an officer or director. After that motion was fully briefed and argued, on September 9, 2013, the defendants filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings on grounds that the complaint failed to satisfy the pleading standards for ERISA employer stock cases. Supplemental briefing on the defendants’ motion ensued between December 2015 and January 2016, with oral argument in January 2016. On August 19, 2016, the Magistrate Judge issued a report and recommendation to grant the defendants’ motion for judgment on the pleadings. The plaintiffs filed objections with the District Court on September 2, 2016, and on October 4, 2016, the District Court adopted the report and recommendations and granted the defendants’ motion dismissing the complaint with prejudice. Other Claims and Proceedings Between September 2, 2016 and October 13, 2016, ten purported class action lawsuits have been brought against Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation and 13 other producers by and on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers of broiler chickens. The complaints, which were filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, seek, among other relief, treble damages for an alleged conspiracy among defendants to reduce output and increase prices of broiler chickens from the period of January 2008 to the present. At a status hearing on October 5, 2016, the Court held that plaintiffs’ actions were related and that defendants’ responses to the complaints would be deferred until consolidated pleadings were filed on behalf of each class of plaintiffs. We believe we have strong defenses in response to plaintiffs’ allegations and intend to contest the action vigorously. We cannot predict the outcome of these actions nor when they will be resolved. If the plaintiffs were to prevail in any of these litigations, we could be liable for damages, which could be material and could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

We are a party to many routine contracts in which we provide general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. Among other considerations, we have not recorded a liability for any of these indemnities as based upon the likelihood of payment, the fair value of such indemnities would not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of business. In the Company’s opinion, it has made appropriate and adequate accruals for claims where necessary; however, the ultimate liability for these matters is uncertain, and if significantly different than the amounts accrued, the ultimate outcome could have a material effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company. For a discussion of the material legal proceedings and claims, see Part II, Item 1. “Legal Proceedings.” Below is a summary of some of these material proceedings and claims. The Company believes it has substantial defenses to the claims made and intends to vigorously defend these cases.

Tax Claims and Proceedings

In 2009, the IRS asserted claims against the Company totaling $74.7 million. We entered into two Stipulations of Settled Issues agreements with the IRS on December 12, 2012 that accounted for approximately $29.3 million of the claims and should result in no additional tax due.

In connection with the remaining $45.4 million claimed by the IRS, we filed a petition in the U.S. Tax Court (“Tax Court”) on May 26, 2010 in response to a Notice of Deficiency that was issued to the Company as the successor in interest to Gold Kist. The Notice of Deficiency and the Tax Court proceeding related to an ordinary loss that Gold Kist claimed for its tax year ended June 26, 2004. On December 11, 2013, the Tax Court issued its opinion in the Tax Court case holding the loss that Gold Kist claimed for its tax year ended June 26, 2004 was capital in nature. On April 14, 2014, the Company appealed the Tax Court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law to the Fifth Circuit. On February 25, 2015, the Fifth Circuit issued its opinion, which reversed the Tax Court’s judgment and rendered judgment in favor of the Company. The IRS did not appeal the Fifth Circuit’s decision, which has become final. On September 14, 2016, the Tax Court issued an order and decision that vacated its prior decision and held that the Company is not liable for any additional tax in connection with this matter.

ERISA Claims and Proceedings

Claims have been brought against certain current and former directors, executive officers and employees of the Company, the Pilgrim’s Pride Administrative Committee and the Pilgrim’s Pride Pension Committee seeking unspecified damages under section 502 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. §1132. These claims were brought by individual participants in the Pilgrim’s Pride Retirement Savings Plan, individually and on behalf of a putative class, alleging that the defendants breached fiduciary duties to plan participants and beneficiaries or otherwise violated ERISA. Although the Company is not a named defendant in these claims, our bylaws require us to indemnify our current and former directors and officers from any liabilities and expenses incurred by them in connection with actions they took in good faith while serving as an officer or director. After that motion was fully briefed and argued, on September 9, 2013, the defendants filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings on grounds that the complaint failed to satisfy the pleading standards for ERISA employer stock cases. Supplemental briefing on the defendants’ motion ensued between December 2015 and January 2016, with oral argument in January 2016. On August 19, 2016, the Magistrate Judge issued a report and recommendation to grant the defendants’ motion for judgment on the pleadings. The plaintiffs filed objections with the District Court on September 2, 2016, and on October 4, 2016, the District Court adopted the report and recommendations and granted the defendants’ motion dismissing the complaint with prejudice.

Other Claims and Proceedings

Between September 2, 2016 and October 13, 2016, ten purported class action lawsuits have been brought against Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation and 13 other producers by and on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers of broiler chickens. The complaints, which were filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, seek, among other relief, treble damages for an alleged conspiracy among defendants to reduce output and increase prices of broiler chickens from the period of January 2008 to the present. At a status hearing on October 5, 2016, the Court held that plaintiffs’ actions were related and that defendants’ responses to the complaints would be deferred until consolidated pleadings were filed on behalf of each class of plaintiffs. We believe we have strong defenses in response to plaintiffs’ allegations and intend to contest the action vigorously. We cannot predict the outcome of these actions nor when they will be resolved. If the plaintiffs were to prevail in any of these litigations, we could be liable for damages, which could be material and could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.