SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 23, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011	Sep. 23, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Net sales	$ 2,068,478	$ 1,891,224	$ 5,931,720	$ 5,706,390
Cost of sales	1,962,343	1,953,611	5,571,431	5,864,810
Operational restructuring charges	0	0	0	3,305
Gross profit	106,135	(62,387)	360,289	(161,725)
Selling, general and administrative expense	41,782	51,197	131,477	156,073
Administrative restructuring charges	2,647	11,472	5,921	12,740
Operating income	61,706	(125,056)	222,891	(330,538)
Interest expense, net	25,260	27,930	78,430	82,863
Interest income	(256)	(323)	(886)	(1,311)
Foreign currency transaction losses	(7,701)	13,925	(5,417)	11,235
Miscellaneous, net	413	(3,728)	(272)	(6,236)
Income (loss) before income taxes	43,990	(162,860)	151,036	(417,089)
Income tax expense (benefit)	1,049	(60)	(656)	(6,462)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	42,941	(162,800)	151,692	(410,627)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	42,941	(162,800)	151,692	(410,627)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	10	(284)	230	790
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	42,931	(162,516)	151,462	(411,417)
Comprehensive income (loss)	37,814	(162,800)	135,540	(412,482)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	10	(284)	230	790
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	37,804	(162,516)	135,310	(413,272)
Parent Company [Member]
Net sales	1,809,883	1,536,794	5,192,507	4,628,071
Cost of sales	1,741,370	1,583,838	4,934,941	4,755,429
Operational restructuring charges	0	0	0	3,305
Gross profit	68,513	(47,044)	257,566	(130,663)
Selling, general and administrative expense	37,172	45,240	116,726	135,332
Administrative restructuring charges	2,647	4,583	5,916	4,583
Operating income	28,694	(96,867)	134,924	(270,578)
Interest expense, net	25,464	27,845	78,234	82,344
Interest income	(277)	0	(293)	(354)
Foreign currency transaction losses	(33)	114	15	(59)
Miscellaneous, net	(348)	25,645	(829)	77,401
Income (loss) before income taxes	3,888	(150,471)	57,797	(429,910)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(3,584)	(3,257)	(10,671)	(19,229)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	7,472	(147,214)	68,468	(410,681)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	39,134	(12,217)	86,879	685
Net income (loss)	46,606	(159,431)	155,347	(409,996)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	46,606	(159,431)	155,347	(409,996)
Comprehensive income (loss)	41,479	(159,431)	139,195	(411,851)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	41,479	(159,431)	139,195	(411,851)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net sales	71,124	110,438	219,464	340,098
Cost of sales	64,999	105,531	198,081	314,542
Operational restructuring charges	0	0	0	0
Gross profit	6,125	4,907	21,383	25,556
Selling, general and administrative expense	0	0	0	0
Administrative restructuring charges	0	0	0	0
Operating income	6,125	4,907	21,383	25,556
Interest expense, net	0	0	0	0
Interest income	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency transaction losses	0	0	0	0
Miscellaneous, net	(2)	1,125	(13)	3,477
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,127	3,782	21,396	22,079
Income tax expense (benefit)	2,313	1,428	8,077	8,335
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	3,814	2,354	13,319	13,744
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	3,814	2,354	13,319	13,744
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	3,814	2,354	13,319	13,744
Comprehensive income (loss)	3,814	2,354	13,319	13,744
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	3,814	2,354	13,319	13,744
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net sales	246,519	309,764	707,363	954,918
Cost of sales	215,022	330,014	626,023	1,011,536
Operational restructuring charges	0	0	0	0
Gross profit	31,497	(20,250)	81,340	(56,618)
Selling, general and administrative expense	4,610	5,957	14,751	22,009
Administrative restructuring charges	0	6,889	5	6,889
Operating income	26,887	(33,096)	66,584	(85,516)
Interest expense, net	(204)	85	196	519
Interest income	21	(323)	(593)	(957)
Foreign currency transaction losses	(7,668)	13,811	(5,432)	11,294
Miscellaneous, net	560	(30,653)	160	(87,701)
Income (loss) before income taxes	34,178	(16,016)	72,253	(8,671)
Income tax expense (benefit)	2,320	1,769	1,938	4,432
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	31,858	(17,785)	70,315	(13,103)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	31,858	(17,785)	70,315	(13,103)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	10	(284)	230	790
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	31,848	(17,501)	70,085	(13,893)
Comprehensive income (loss)	31,858	(17,785)	70,315	(13,103)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	10	(284)	230	790
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	31,848	(17,501)	70,085	(13,893)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Net sales	(59,048)	(65,772)	(187,614)	(216,697)
Cost of sales	(59,048)	(65,772)	(187,614)	(216,697)
Operational restructuring charges	0	0	0	0
Gross profit	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expense	0	0	0	0
Administrative restructuring charges	0	0	0	0
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense, net	0	0	0	0
Interest income	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency transaction losses	0	0	0	0
Miscellaneous, net	203	155	410	587
Income (loss) before income taxes	(203)	(155)	(410)	(587)
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(203)	(155)	(410)	(587)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(39,134)	12,217	(86,879)	(685)
Net income (loss)	(39,337)	12,062	(87,289)	(1,272)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	(39,337)	12,062	(87,289)	(1,272)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(39,337)	12,062	(87,289)	(1,272)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation	$ (39,337)	$ 12,062	$ (87,289)	$ (1,272)