Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2018	Dec. 28, 2019	Sep. 28, 2019	Jun. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2019	Dec. 29, 2018	Sep. 29, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 28, 2019	Dec. 29, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017
Net sales		$ 859,428	$ 842,049	$ 827,324	$ 835,104	$ 853,130	$ 812,576	$ 846,646	$ 875,374	$ 3,363,905	$ 3,387,726	$ 3,662,251
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses										2,589,085	2,646,374	2,875,680
Loss/(gain) on sale of assets										(20,582)	709	(237)
Selling, general and administrative expense										358,523	309,264	343,502
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges										0	14,965	0
Depreciation and amortization										325,510	321,192	302,100
Total costs and expenses										3,252,536	3,292,504	3,521,045
Equity In Income (Loss) from Subsidiary, before Tax										364,452	159,779	28,239
Operating income		293,287	59,859	74,124	48,551	73,738	15,556	36,754	128,953	475,821	255,001	169,445
Other expense:
Interest expense										(78,674)	(86,429)	(88,926)
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt										(12,126)	(23,509)	0
Foreign currency losses										(1,311)	(6,431)	(6,898)
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	$ 15,600									2,967	(12,545)	(885)
Other expense, net										(6,671)	(7,562)	(8,801)
Total other expense										(95,815)	(136,476)	(105,510)
Equity in net income of other unconsolidated subsidiaries										428	(550)	265
Income from operations before income taxes		279,013	37,687	38,820	24,914	50,183	(6,540)	(27,455)	101,787	380,434	117,975	64,200
Income tax expense/(benefit)										59,467	12,031	(69,154)
Net income		243,446	26,837	31,044	19,640	42,144	(5,137)	(29,138)	98,075	320,967	105,944	133,354
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(837)	(1,116)	(4,786)	(1,628)	(1,496)	(900)	(1,282)	(770)	(8,367)	(4,448)	(4,886)
Net income attributable to Darling		$ 242,609	$ 25,721	$ 26,258	$ 18,012	$ 40,648	$ (6,037)	$ (30,420)	$ 97,305	$ 312,600	$ 101,496	$ 128,468
Net income per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 1.48	$ 0.16	$ 0.16	$ 0.11	$ 0.25	$ (0.04)	$ (0.18)	$ 0.59	$ 1.90	$ 0.62	$ 0.78
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 1.44	$ 0.15	$ 0.16	$ 0.11	$ 0.24	$ (0.04)	$ (0.18)	$ 0.58	$ 1.86	$ 0.60	$ 0.77