CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jul. 01, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jul. 01, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,843,085	$ 2,836,713	$ 5,567,760	$ 5,583,391
Cost of sales	2,475,221	2,562,491	4,980,957	5,021,504
Gross profit	367,864	274,222	586,803	561,887
Selling, general and administrative expense	88,357	87,975	170,281	173,258
Administrative restructuring activities	(43)	1,135	(70)	1,924
Operating income	279,550	185,112	416,592	386,705
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	33,594	40,267	67,156	90,567
Interest income	(3,444)	(4,834)	(6,784)	(6,424)
Foreign currency transaction loss	2,260	5,630	4,896	3,909
Miscellaneous, net	1,513	(817)	1,156	(2,434)
Income before income taxes	245,627	144,866	350,168	301,087
Income tax expense	75,547	38,522	95,963	75,519
Net income	170,080	106,344	254,205	225,568
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	12	(197)	126	(391)
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$ 170,068	$ 106,541	$ 254,079	$ 225,959
Weighted average shares of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	249,400	248,981	249,283	248,909
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	236	76	320	116
Diluted (in shares)	249,636	249,057	249,603	249,025
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.68	$ 0.43	$ 1.02	$ 0.91
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.68	$ 0.43	$ 1.02	$ 0.91