Guarantor Financial Information (Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2014	Jun. 29, 2013	Jun. 28, 2014	Jun. 29, 2013
Net sales	$ 1,006,959	$ 423,593	$ 1,938,394	$ 869,015
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	747,966	309,922	1,492,945	632,608
Selling, general and administrative expenses	111,845	40,793	217,248	83,086
Acquisition and integration costs	4,165	0	20,113	0
Depreciation and amortization	67,498	22,076	133,167	43,943
Total costs and expenses	931,474	372,791	1,863,473	759,637
Operating income	75,485	50,802	74,921	109,378
Interest expense	(26,571)	(5,669)	(85,428)	(11,294)
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	11	0	(13,803)	0
Other, net	(887)	(418)	(2,025)	649
Equity in net income/ (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries	2,040	(1,962)	7,117	(3,157)
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	50,078	42,753	(19,218)	95,576
Income tax expense/ (benefit)	15,503	16,335	(2,787)	36,753
Net (income)/ loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,818)	0	(3,615)	0
Net income/ (loss) attributable to Darling	32,757	26,418	(20,046)	58,823
Issuer [Member]
Net sales	144,032	159,392	291,087	321,264
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	99,203	124,146	209,997	248,250
Selling, general and administrative expenses	34,908	22,106	72,460	44,673
Acquisition and integration costs	2,626		17,007
Depreciation and amortization	7,630	5,817	15,148	11,955
Total costs and expenses	144,367	152,069	314,612	304,878
Operating income	(335)	7,323	(23,525)	16,386
Interest expense	(15,434)	(5,666)	(65,735)	(11,287)
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	0		(12,228)
Other, net	(1,266)	(612)	(2,719)	326
Equity in net income/ (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	57,688	25,767	69,049	55,485
Income before income taxes	40,653	26,812	(35,158)	60,910
Income tax expense/ (benefit)	7,896	394	(15,112)	2,087
Net (income)/ loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income/ (loss) attributable to Darling	32,757	26,418	(20,046)	58,823
Guarantors [Member]
Net sales	396,323	309,689	785,430	629,100
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	315,584	231,381	628,592	465,902
Selling, general and administrative expenses	14,892	18,674	28,768	38,360
Acquisition and integration costs	0		0
Depreciation and amortization	19,012	16,253	38,523	31,976
Total costs and expenses	349,488	266,308	695,883	536,238
Operating income	46,835	43,381	89,547	92,862
Interest expense	5,330	(3)	10,555	(7)
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	328		236
Other, net	227	212	(570)	347
Equity in net income/ (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	52,720	43,590	99,768	93,202
Income tax expense/ (benefit)	2,050	16,663	14,468	35,840
Net (income)/ loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income/ (loss) attributable to Darling	50,670	26,927	85,300	57,362
Non-guarantors [Member]
Net sales	534,191	1,761	1,018,237	5,895
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	400,766	1,644	810,716	5,700
Selling, general and administrative expenses	62,045	13	116,020	53
Acquisition and integration costs	1,539		3,106
Depreciation and amortization	40,856	6	79,496	12
Total costs and expenses	505,206	1,663	1,009,338	5,765
Operating income	28,985	98	8,899	130
Interest expense	(16,467)	0	(30,248)	0
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	(317)		(1,811)
Other, net	152	(18)	1,264	(24)
Equity in net income/ (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries	2,040	(1,962)	7,117	(3,157)
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	14,393	(1,882)	(14,779)	(3,051)
Income tax expense/ (benefit)	5,557	(722)	(2,143)	(1,174)
Net (income)/ loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,818)		(3,615)
Net income/ (loss) attributable to Darling	7,018	(1,160)	(16,251)	(1,877)
Eliminations [Member]
Net sales	(67,587)	(47,249)	(156,360)	(87,244)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	(67,587)	(47,249)	(156,360)	(87,244)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Acquisition and integration costs	0		0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	(67,587)	(47,249)	(156,360)	(87,244)
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	0		0
Other, net	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income/ (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	(57,688)	(25,767)	(69,049)	(55,485)
Income before income taxes	(57,688)	(25,767)	(69,049)	(55,485)
Income tax expense/ (benefit)	0	0	0	0
Net (income)/ loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income/ (loss) attributable to Darling	$ (57,688)	$ (25,767)	$ (69,049)	$ (55,485)