Guarantor Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income) (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Apr. 02, 2016	Apr. 04, 2015
Net income	$ 2,663	$ 1,824
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	57,531	(93,315)
Pension adjustments	726	769
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	57,551	(92,508)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	60,214	(90,684)
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(420)	7,042
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling	60,634	(97,726)
Parent [Member]
Net income	2,663	1,824
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Pension adjustments	658	729
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	(48)	767
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	2,615	2,591
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling	2,615	2,591
Guarantors [Member]
Net income	18,841	18,750
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Pension adjustments	0	0
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	0	0
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	18,841	18,750
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling	18,841	18,750
Non-guarantors [Member]
Net income	10,130	(1,301)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	57,531	(93,315)
Pension adjustments	68	40
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	57,599	(93,275)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	67,729	(94,576)
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(420)	7,042
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling	68,149	(101,618)
Eliminations [Member]
Net income	(28,971)	(17,449)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Pension adjustments	0	0
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	0	0
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	(28,971)	(17,449)
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling	(28,971)	(17,449)
Corn Option [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	(706)	38
Corn Option [Member] \| Parent [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	(706)	38
Corn Option [Member] \| Guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0	0
Corn Option [Member] \| Non-guarantors [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	0	0
Corn Option [Member] \| Eliminations [Member]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Derivative adjustments	$ 0	$ 0

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Other Comprehensive Income
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51831270

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.

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