CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 29, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,777,970	$ 2,697,604	$ 8,345,730	$ 8,280,995
Cost of sales	2,495,773	2,527,863	7,476,731	7,549,367
Gross profit	282,197	169,741	868,999	731,628
Selling, general and administrative expense	94,032	84,138	264,313	257,396
Administrative restructuring activities	(20)	257	(90)	2,181
Operating income	188,185	85,346	604,776	472,051
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	32,028	35,334	99,184	125,901
Interest income	(4,698)	(4,241)	(11,481)	(10,665)
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)	3,027	(6,711)	7,923	(2,802)
Miscellaneous, net	1,367	653	2,521	(1,781)
Income before income taxes	156,461	60,311	506,629	361,398
Income tax expense	46,365	30,848	142,328	106,367
Net income	110,096	29,463	364,301	255,031
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	331	153	457	(238)
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$ 109,765	$ 29,310	$ 363,844	$ 255,269
Weighted average shares of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	249,467	248,981	249,344	248,933
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	262	198	308	143
Diluted (in shares)	249,729	249,179	249,652	249,076
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44	$ 0.12	$ 1.46	$ 1.03
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44	$ 0.12	$ 1.46	$ 1.03