CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2021	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 26, 2021	Sep. 27, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 3,827,566	$ 3,075,121	$ 10,738,689	$ 8,974,072
Cost of sales	3,455,723	2,761,279	9,725,362	8,363,272
Gross profit	371,843	313,842	1,013,327	610,800
Selling, general and administrative expense	251,066	219,554	857,217	404,837
Operating income	120,777	94,288	156,110	205,963
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	29,833	30,564	110,818	95,575
Interest income	(1,244)	(1,763)	(4,452)	(4,611)
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)	2,359	9,092	9,018	(3,768)
Miscellaneous, net	(1,391)	360	(10,005)	(33,873)
Income before income taxes	91,220	56,035	50,731	152,640
Income tax expense	30,385	22,344	55,931	57,900
Net income (loss)	60,835	33,691	(5,200)	94,740
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	110	245	554	62
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation	$ 60,725	$ 33,446	$ (5,754)	$ 94,678
Weighted average shares of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation common stock outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	243,675	244,186	243,643	246,740
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)	520	190	0	158
Diluted (in shares)	244,195	244,376	243,643	246,898
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25	$ 0.14	$ (0.02)	$ 0.38
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25	$ 0.14	$ (0.02)	$ 0.38