Guarantor Financial Information (Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2016	Jul. 04, 2015	Jul. 02, 2016	Jul. 04, 2015
Net sales	$ 877,341	$ 859,315	$ 1,656,982	$ 1,734,009
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	677,115	668,276	1,276,008	1,352,797
Selling, general and administrative expenses	76,158	84,294	157,627	170,925
Acquisition and integration costs	70	1,208	401	6,527
Depreciation and amortization	69,531	66,245	141,787	132,643
Total costs and expenses	822,874	820,023	1,575,823	1,662,892
Operating income	54,467	39,292	81,159	71,117
Interest expense	(23,980)	(34,285)	(47,881)	(57,394)
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	8	1,622	(2,595)	(838)
Other expense, net	(2,373)	(1,199)	(3,678)	(1,708)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries	13,852	4,172	19,495	2,364
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	41,974	9,602	46,500	13,541
Income tax expense	7,983	4,665	9,846	6,780
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,992)	(1,857)	(3,576)	(3,572)
Net income attributable to Darling	31,999	3,080	33,078	3,189
Parent [Member]
Net sales	129,377	121,270	237,748	247,064
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	99,788	89,321	189,271	192,937
Selling, general and administrative expenses	34,569	35,124	70,462	68,254
Acquisition and integration costs	0	603	0	2,576
Depreciation and amortization	9,412	7,983	20,837	16,154
Total costs and expenses	143,769	133,031	280,570	279,921
Operating income	(14,392)	(11,761)	(42,822)	(32,857)
Interest expense	(15,338)	(15,069)	(30,860)	(30,229)
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	74	2	43	(9)
Other expense, net	(3,665)	(1,224)	(6,990)	(2,405)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries	(355)	0	(452)	0
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	68,020	18,444	96,991	35,893
Income before income taxes	34,344	(9,608)	15,910	(29,607)
Income tax expense	2,345	(12,688)	(17,168)	(32,796)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Darling	31,999	3,080	33,078	3,189
Guarantors [Member]
Net sales	342,879	345,030	646,644	703,737
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	272,746	278,873	509,082	563,376
Selling, general and administrative expenses	11,461	13,169	24,597	28,037
Acquisition and integration costs	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	24,102	23,833	50,910	47,432
Total costs and expenses	308,309	315,875	584,589	638,845
Operating income	34,570	29,155	62,055	64,892
Interest expense	4,577	4,851	8,954	9,699
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	23	(93)	188	(397)
Other expense, net	127	(582)	122	(371)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	39,297	33,331	71,319	73,823
Income tax expense	1,920	15,221	15,101	36,963
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Darling	37,377	18,110	56,218	36,860
Non-guarantors [Member]
Net sales	452,833	437,136	863,870	885,979
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	352,329	344,203	668,935	699,255
Selling, general and administrative expenses	30,128	36,001	62,568	74,634
Acquisition and integration costs	70	605	401	3,951
Depreciation and amortization	36,017	34,429	70,040	69,057
Total costs and expenses	418,544	415,238	801,944	846,897
Operating income	34,289	21,898	61,926	39,082
Interest expense	(13,219)	(24,067)	(25,975)	(36,864)
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	(89)	1,713	(2,826)	(432)
Other expense, net	1,165	607	3,190	1,068
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries	14,207	4,172	19,947	2,364
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	36,353	4,323	56,262	5,218
Income tax expense	3,718	2,132	11,913	2,613
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,992)	(1,857)	(3,576)	(3,572)
Net income attributable to Darling	30,643	334	40,773	(967)
Eliminations [Member]
Net sales	(47,748)	(44,121)	(91,280)	(102,771)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	(47,748)	(44,121)	(91,280)	(102,771)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Acquisition and integration costs	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	(47,748)	(44,121)	(91,280)	(102,771)
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	0	0	0	0
Other expense, net	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	(68,020)	(18,444)	(96,991)	(35,893)
Income before income taxes	(68,020)	(18,444)	(96,991)	(35,893)
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Darling	$ (68,020)	$ (18,444)	$ (96,991)	$ (35,893)