Debt (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 29, 2012 Notes [Member]	Dec. 29, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Darling International Senior Unsecured Exchange Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsecured Debt [Member] Darling International Senior Unsecured Exchange Notes [Member]	Dec. 29, 2012 Unsecured Debt [Member] Other Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Unsecured Debt [Member] Other Notes [Member]	Dec. 29, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Credit Agreement Term Loan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Secured Debt [Member] Credit Agreement Term Loan [Member]	Dec. 17, 2010 Secured Debt [Member] Credit Agreement Term Loan [Member]	Dec. 29, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Darling International Senior Secured Revolving Loan Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Secured Debt [Member] Darling International Senior Secured Revolving Loan Facility [Member]	Mar. 24, 2011 Secured Debt [Member] Darling International Senior Secured Revolving Loan Facility [Member]	Dec. 29, 2012 Letter of Credit [Member] Darling International Senior Secured Letter of Credit Sub Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Letter of Credit [Member] Darling International Senior Secured Letter of Credit Sub Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2014			104.25%
2015			102.125%
2016 and thereafter			100.00%
Long-term Debt	$ 250,224	$ 280,030		$ 250,000	$ 250,000	$ 224	$ 30	$ 0	$ 30,000	$ 300,000	$ 0	$ 0
Annual interest rate				8.50%
Maximum availability											415,000	415,000	325,000	75,000
Outstanding borrowings and letter of credit issued											0	0		30,119	23,440
Availability											384,881	391,560
Current portion of long-term debt	82	10
Long-term debt, net of current portion	250,142	280,020
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
2013	82
2014	87
2015	55
2016	0
2017	0
thereafter	$ 250,000