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Guarantor Financial Information Guarantor Financial Information Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 68,788us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 15,954us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 34,575us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ (51,006)us-gaap_ProfitLoss					$ 68,311us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 108,967us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 130,770us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Net income/(loss)	69,943us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	14,318us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	32,757us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	(52,803)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	22,493us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	27,651us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	26,418us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	32,405us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	64,215us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	108,967us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	130,770us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Foreign currency translation									(125,884)	(14,502)	0
Pension adjustments									(20,381)	15,140	(1,169)
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax									(147,637)	1,906	(425)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)									(79,326)	110,873	130,345
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									6,200	0	0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling									(73,126)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	110,873us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	130,345us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax
Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									(113)	127	391
Corn Option [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									(1,259)	1,141	194
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									0	0	159
Issuer [Member]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest									68,311	108,967	130,770
Net income/(loss)									64,215	108,967	130,770
Foreign currency translation									0	0
Pension adjustments									(11,844)	15,060	(1,169)
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax									(13,216)	16,328	(425)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)									55,095
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling									55,095	125,295	130,345
Issuer [Member] \| Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									(113)	127	391
Issuer [Member] \| Corn Option [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									(1,259)	1,141	194
Issuer [Member] \| Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives											159
Guarantors [Member]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest									155,250	107,317	121,321
Net income/(loss)									155,250	107,317	121,321
Foreign currency translation									0	0
Pension adjustments									(34)	0	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax									(34)	0	0
Total comprehensive income/(loss)									155,216
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling									155,216	107,317	121,321
Guarantors [Member] \| Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									0	0	0
Guarantors [Member] \| Corn Option [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									0	0	0
Guarantors [Member] \| Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives											0
Non-guarantors [Member]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest									68,540	(2,139)	(1,368)
Net income/(loss)									68,540	(2,139)	(1,368)
Foreign currency translation									(125,884)	(14,502)
Pension adjustments									(8,503)	80	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax									(134,387)	(14,422)	0
Total comprehensive income/(loss)									(65,847)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									6,200
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling									(59,647)	(16,561)	(1,368)
Non-guarantors [Member] \| Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									0	0	0
Non-guarantors [Member] \| Corn Option [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									0	0	0
Non-guarantors [Member] \| Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives											0
Eliminations [Member]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest									(223,790)	(105,178)	(119,953)
Net income/(loss)									(223,790)	(105,178)	(119,953)
Foreign currency translation									0	0
Pension adjustments									0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax									0	0	0
Total comprehensive income/(loss)									(223,790)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling									(223,790)	(105,178)	(119,953)
Eliminations [Member] \| Natural Gas Swap [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									0	0	0
Eliminations [Member] \| Corn Option [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives									0	0	0
Eliminations [Member] \| Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Total natural gas derivatives											$ 0