Comprehensive Income AOCI (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2019 USD ($)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) January 2, 2016, attributable to Darling, net of tax	$ (304,539)
Other comprehensive gain before reclassifications	(21,707)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	4,722
Reclassification of tax effect	(4,800)
Net current-period other comprehensive income	(16,985)
Noncontrolling interest	323
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) December 31, 2016, attributable to Darling, net of tax	(321,847)
Foreign Currency Translation
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) January 2, 2016, attributable to Darling, net of tax	(270,081)
Other comprehensive gain before reclassifications	(11,934)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income	(11,934)
Noncontrolling interest	323
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) December 31, 2016, attributable to Darling, net of tax	(282,338)
Derivative Instruments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) January 2, 2016, attributable to Darling, net of tax	1,081
Other comprehensive gain before reclassifications	(7,805)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	1,219
Net current-period other comprehensive income	(6,586)
Noncontrolling interest	0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) December 31, 2016, attributable to Darling, net of tax	(5,505)
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) January 2, 2016, attributable to Darling, net of tax	(35,539)
Other comprehensive gain before reclassifications	(1,968)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	3,503
Net current-period other comprehensive income	1,535
Noncontrolling interest	0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) December 31, 2016, attributable to Darling, net of tax	$ (34,004)

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax and Reclassification of Jobs and Tax Act

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Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of 2017 Reclassification From Aoci To Retained Earnings

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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.

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Amount after tax, before reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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Amount after tax of other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests.

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Amount after tax of reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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