BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands, € in Millions, ton in Millions, bird / WK in Millions				1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 08, 2017 USD ($) employee bird / WK plant ton	Sep. 08, 2017 EUR (€)	Jan. 06, 2017 USD ($) employee bird / WK trade_name plant	Sep. 24, 2017 USD ($) employee bird / WK	Sep. 24, 2017 USD ($) employee bird / WK	Sep. 25, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 24, 2017 USD ($) employee bird / WK	Sep. 25, 2016 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Maximum processing capacity of employees per week (in birds per week) | bird / WK				45.2	45.2		45.2
Number of employees of acquiree | employee				52,000	52,000		52,000
Administrative restructuring charges					$ 4,147	$ 279	$ 8,496	$ 279
Restructuring, GNP Acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Administrative restructuring charges					700		2,600
Additional restructuring charges expected during 2017				$ 1,700	1,700		1,700
Moy Park
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of equity acquired	100.00%
Cash consideration	$ 301,300
Note payable for consideration transferred | €		€ 562.5
Processing and manufacturing facilities (in plants) | plant	13
Maximum processing capacity of employees per week (in birds per week) | bird / WK	6.0
Food prepared, annual amount | ton	0.2
Number of employees of acquiree | employee	10,100
Transaction costs	$ 15,000
Net sales of acquiree since acquisition date				199,900			1,300,000	1,500,000
Net income of acquiree since acquisition date				$ 2,100			23,500	$ 25,100
GNP
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of equity acquired			100.00%
Cash consideration			$ 357,252
Maximum processing capacity of employees per week (in birds per week) | bird / WK			2.1
Number of employees of acquiree | employee			1,700
Transaction costs			$ 600
Net sales of acquiree since acquisition date					108,600		322,300
Net income of acquiree since acquisition date					$ 9,800		$ 24,600
Number of processing plants | plant			3
GNP | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired, net sales growth rate used in determination of fair value			2.50%
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired, customer attrition rate used in determination of fair value			4.00%
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired, income tax rate used in determination of fair value			39.30%
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired, income tax amortization benefit factor used in determination of fair value			1.2098
Finite-lived intangible assets acquired, discount rate used in determination of fair value			13.80%
GNP | Trade names
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, number of trade names valued using the income approach | trade_name			2
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, royalty rates used in determination of fair value			2.00%
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, net sales growth rate used in determination of fair values Acquired, Fair Value Inputs, Net Sales Growth Rate			2.50%
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, income tax rate used in determination of fair value			39.30%
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, income tax amortization benefit factor used in determination of fair value			1.2098
Indefinite-lived trade names acquired, royalty rate saved used in determination of fair value			13.80%