Guarantor Financial Information (Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015
Net sales	$ 853,856	$ 853,762	$ 2,510,838	$ 2,587,771
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	671,167	671,321	1,947,175	2,024,118
Selling, general and administrative expenses	76,508	75,026	234,135	245,951
Acquisition and integration costs	0	1,280	401	7,807
Depreciation and amortization	70,653	67,327	212,440	199,970
Total costs and expenses	818,328	814,954	2,394,151	2,477,846
Operating income	35,528	38,808	116,687	109,925
Interest expense	(23,867)	(24,828)	(71,748)	(82,222)
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	354	(2,461)	(2,241)	(3,299)
Other expense, net	(2,007)	1,004	(5,685)	(704)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries	18,138	(12,021)	37,633	(9,657)
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	28,146	502	74,646	14,043
Income tax expense/(benefit)	(744)	7,859	9,102	14,639
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(196)	(1,730)	(3,772)	(5,302)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling	28,694	(9,087)	61,772	(5,898)
Parent [Member]
Net sales	130,063	122,670	367,811	369,734
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	99,705	92,188	288,976	285,125
Selling, general and administrative expenses	29,987	23,651	100,449	91,905
Acquisition and integration costs	0	764	0	3,340
Depreciation and amortization	9,622	8,074	30,459	24,228
Total costs and expenses	139,314	124,677	419,884	404,598
Operating income	(9,251)	(2,007)	(52,073)	(34,864)
Interest expense	(15,382)	(15,339)	(46,242)	(45,568)
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	(11)	1	32	(8)
Other expense, net	(3,439)	(1,282)	(10,429)	(3,687)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries	(362)	0	(814)	0
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	60,952	(45,361)	157,943	(9,468)
Income before income taxes	32,507	(63,988)	48,417	(93,595)
Income tax expense/(benefit)	3,813	(54,901)	(13,355)	(87,697)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling	28,694	(9,087)	61,772	(5,898)
Guarantors [Member]
Net sales	347,384	341,936	994,028	1,045,673
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	286,919	282,218	796,001	845,594
Selling, general and administrative expenses	13,421	14,285	38,018	42,322
Acquisition and integration costs	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	24,813	24,409	75,723	71,841
Total costs and expenses	325,153	320,912	909,742	959,757
Operating income	22,231	21,024	84,286	85,916
Interest expense	4,437	4,635	13,391	14,334
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	(152)	(561)	36	(958)
Other expense, net	258	1,488	380	1,117
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	26,774	26,586	98,093	100,409
Income tax expense/(benefit)	(3,140)	67,707	11,961	104,670
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling	29,914	(41,121)	86,132	(4,261)
Non-guarantors [Member]
Net sales	433,523	437,905	1,297,393	1,323,884
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	341,657	345,664	1,010,592	1,044,919
Selling, general and administrative expenses	33,100	37,090	95,668	111,724
Acquisition and integration costs	0	516	401	4,467
Depreciation and amortization	36,218	34,844	106,258	103,901
Total costs and expenses	410,975	418,114	1,212,919	1,265,011
Operating income	22,548	19,791	84,474	58,873
Interest expense	(12,922)	(14,124)	(38,897)	(50,988)
Foreign currency gains/ (losses)	517	(1,901)	(2,309)	(2,333)
Other expense, net	1,174	798	4,364	1,866
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries	18,500	(12,021)	38,447	(9,657)
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	29,817	(7,457)	86,079	(2,239)
Income tax expense/(benefit)	(1,417)	(4,947)	10,496	(2,334)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(196)	(1,730)	(3,772)	(5,302)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling	31,038	(4,240)	71,811	(5,207)
Eliminations [Member]
Net sales	(57,114)	(48,749)	(148,394)	(151,520)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	(57,114)	(48,749)	(148,394)	(151,520)
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	(57,114)	(48,749)	(148,394)	(151,520)
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	(60,952)	45,361	(157,943)	9,468
Income before income taxes	(60,952)	45,361	(157,943)	9,468
Income tax expense/(benefit)	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling	$ (60,952)	$ 45,361	$ (157,943)	$ 9,468