Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2018	Dec. 29, 2018	Sep. 29, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2016	Oct. 01, 2016	Jul. 02, 2016	Apr. 02, 2016	Dec. 29, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Net sales		$ 853,130	$ 812,576	$ 846,646	$ 875,374	$ 952,549	$ 936,262	$ 894,930	$ 878,510	$ 3,387,726	$ 3,662,251	$ 3,391,928
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses										2,647,083	2,875,443	2,635,333
Selling, general and administrative expense										309,264	343,502	311,552
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges										14,965	0	0
Depreciation and amortization										321,192	302,100	289,908
Acquisition and integration costs										0	0	401
Total costs and expenses										3,292,504	3,521,045	3,237,194
Operating income		23,614	18,186	21,668	31,754	36,139	34,396	38,164	32,507	95,222	141,206	154,734
Other expense:
Interest expense										(86,429)	(88,926)	(94,187)
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt										(23,509)	0	0
Foreign currency losses										(6,431)	(6,898)	(1,854)
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	$ 15,600									(12,545)	(885)	0
Other expense, net										(7,562)	(8,801)	(6,533)
Total other expense										(136,476)	(105,510)	(102,574)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries										159,229	28,504	70,379
Income from operations before income taxes		50,183	(6,540)	(27,455)	101,787	21,934	14,980	18,070	9,216	117,975	64,200	122,539
Income tax expense/(benefit)										12,031	(69,154)	15,315
Net income		42,144	(5,137)	(29,138)	98,075	106,944	8,684	10,328	7,398	105,944	133,354	107,224
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(1,496)	(900)	(1,282)	(770)	(1,215)	(923)	(1,179)	(1,569)	(4,448)	(4,886)	(4,911)
Net income attributable to Darling		$ 40,648	$ (6,037)	$ (30,420)	$ 97,305	$ 105,729	$ 7,761	$ 9,149	$ 5,829	$ 101,496	$ 128,468	$ 102,313
Net income per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 0.25	$ (0.04)	$ (0.18)	$ 0.59	$ 0.64	$ 0.05	$ 0.06	$ 0.04	$ 0.62	$ 0.78	$ 0.62
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.24	$ (0.04)	$ (0.18)	$ 0.58	$ 0.63	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.04	$ 0.60	$ 0.77	$ 0.62