EXIT OR DISPOSAL ACTIVITIES (Schedule of Exit or Disposal Efforts) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 23, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013		Sep. 23, 2012
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Positions eliminated			2,890
Costs incurred and expected to be incurred:
Employee-related costs			$ 3,356
Asset impairment costs			53,240
Inventory valuation costs			344
Other exit or disposal costs			19,318
Total exit or disposal costs			76,258
Costs incurred since earliest implementation date:
Employee-related costs			3,356
Asset impairment costs			53,240
Inventory valuation costs			344
Other exit or disposal costs			17,861
Total exit or disposal costs	3,658	2,798	74,801		6,150
Additional Data One [Member]
Costs incurred and expected to be incurred:
Asset impairment costs	3,095
Other exit or disposal costs	563	2,798
Total exit or disposal costs	3,658	2,798
Additional Data Two [Member]
Costs incurred since earliest implementation date:
Employee-related costs					78
Asset impairment costs			3,095		1,342
Other exit or disposal costs			1,527		4,730
Total exit or disposal costs			4,622		6,150
Facility Closures [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Earliest implementation date			Oct. 31, 2008	[1]
Latest expected completion date			Sep. 30, 2014	[1]
Positions eliminated			2,410	[1]
Costs incurred and expected to be incurred:
Employee-related costs			2,492	[1]
Asset impairment costs			15,878	[1]
Inventory valuation costs			344	[1]
Other exit or disposal costs			15,206	[1]
Total exit or disposal costs			33,920	[1]
Costs incurred since earliest implementation date:
Employee-related costs			2,492	[1]
Asset impairment costs			15,878	[1]
Inventory valuation costs			344	[1]
Other exit or disposal costs			13,749	[1]
Total exit or disposal costs			32,463	[1]
Facility Closures [Member] | Additional Data One [Member]
Costs incurred and expected to be incurred:
Asset impairment costs	2,629
Other exit or disposal costs	563	805
Total exit or disposal costs	3,192	805
Facility Closures [Member] | Additional Data Two [Member]
Costs incurred since earliest implementation date:
Employee-related costs					78
Asset impairment costs			2,629		960
Other exit or disposal costs			1,527		2,737
Total exit or disposal costs			4,156		3,775
Administrative Integration [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Earliest implementation date			Jan. 31, 2010	[2]
Latest expected completion date			Sep. 30, 2012	[2]
Positions eliminated			480	[2]
Costs incurred and expected to be incurred:
Employee-related costs			864	[2]
Asset impairment costs			37,362	[2]
Inventory valuation costs				[2]
Other exit or disposal costs			4,112	[2]
Total exit or disposal costs			42,338	[2]
Costs incurred since earliest implementation date:
Employee-related costs			864	[2]
Asset impairment costs			37,362	[2]
Inventory valuation costs				[2]
Other exit or disposal costs			4,112	[2]
Total exit or disposal costs			42,338	[2]
Administrative Integration [Member] | Additional Data One [Member]
Costs incurred and expected to be incurred:
Asset impairment costs	466
Other exit or disposal costs		1,993
Total exit or disposal costs	466	1,993
Administrative Integration [Member] | Additional Data Two [Member]
Costs incurred since earliest implementation date:
Employee-related costs
Asset impairment costs			466		382
Other exit or disposal costs					1,993
Total exit or disposal costs			$ 466		$ 2,375

[1] Significant facilities closed included one processing plant in 2008, two processing plants in 2009, two processing plants in the transition period and one processing plant in 2011. The transition period began September 27, 2009 and ended December 27, 2009 and resulted from the Company's change in its fiscal year end from the Saturday nearest September 30 each year to the last Sunday in December of each year.

[2] Company management implemented certain activities to integrate the administrative functions of the Company into those of JBS USA. These included the closures of administrative offices in Georgia and Texas.