LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS (Schedule of Long-term Debt and Other Borrowing Arrangements) (Details) $ in Thousands, £ in Millions		3 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2016	Apr. 01, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 29, 2017	Mar. 11, 2015	May 29, 2014 GBP (£)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt		$ 2,799,626	$ 2,709,350
Less: Current maturities of long-term debt		(149,389)	(47,775)
Long-term debt, less current maturities		2,650,237	2,661,575
Less: Capitalized financing costs		(24,539)	(25,958)
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of capitalized financing costs:		$ 2,625,698	2,635,617
Line of credit | Term note payable at 2.97%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		2.97%
Long-term debt		$ 770,000	780,000
Line of credit | Revolving note payable at 2.84%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		2.84%
Long-term debt		$ 0	73,262
Line of credit | Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) with notes payable at TIIE Rate plus 0.95%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt		$ 69,823	76,307
Line of credit | Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) with notes payable at TIIE Rate plus 0.95% | TIIE Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.95%	0.95%
Line of credit | Moy Park Multicurrency Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR rate plus 2.5%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt		$ 0	9,590
Line of credit | Moy Park Multicurrency Revolving Facility with notes payable at LIBOR rate plus 2.5% | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		2.50%
Line of credit | Moy Park Receivables Finance Agreement with payables at LIBOR plus 1.5%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt		$ 0	0
Line of credit | Moy Park Receivables Finance Agreement with payables at LIBOR plus 1.5% | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.50%
Line of credit | Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Revolver with payables at EURIBOR plus 0.8%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt		$ 12,754	1,815
Senior notes | Senior notes payable, net of premium and discount at 5.75%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		5.75%			5.75%
Long-term debt		$ 1,002,799	754,820
Senior notes | Senior notes payable at 5.875%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		5.875%		5.875%
Long-term debt		$ 843,180	600,000
Senior notes | Senior notes payable at 6.25%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		6.25%				6.25%
Long-term debt		$ 92,128	403,444			£ 65.7
Mortgages | Chattels mortgages with payables at weighted average of 3.74%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate		3.74%
Long-term debt		$ 758	873
Other long-term debt | Capital lease obligations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt		$ 8,184	$ 9,239