Comprehensive Income AOCI (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Jan. 02, 2016	Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) January 3, 2015, attributable to Darling, net of tax	$ (177,060)
Other comprehensive gain before reclassifications	(159,741)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	3,274
Net current-period other comprehensive income	(156,467)	$ (141,437)	$ 1,906
Noncontrolling interest	2,391
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) January 2, 2016, attributable to Darling, net of tax	(335,918)	(177,060)
Foreign Currency Translation
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) January 3, 2015, attributable to Darling, net of tax	(140,386)
Other comprehensive gain before reclassifications	(162,436)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income	(162,436)
Noncontrolling interest	2,391
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) January 2, 2016, attributable to Darling, net of tax	(305,213)	(140,386)
Derivative Instruments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) January 3, 2015, attributable to Darling, net of tax	76
Other comprehensive gain before reclassifications	2,695
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	(928)
Net current-period other comprehensive income	1,767
Noncontrolling interest	0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) January 2, 2016, attributable to Darling, net of tax	1,843	76
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) January 3, 2015, attributable to Darling, net of tax	(36,750)
Other comprehensive gain before reclassifications	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	4,202
Net current-period other comprehensive income	4,202
Noncontrolling interest	0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) January 2, 2016, attributable to Darling, net of tax	$ (32,548)	$ (36,750)

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

No definition available.

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Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount after tax, before reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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Amount after tax of other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests.

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Amount after tax of reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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