Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 28, 2020	Mar. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 852,842	$ 835,104
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	646,908	650,913
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant, equipment and other assets	61	(4,250)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	96,193	85,003
Depreciation and amortization	84,671	79,164
Total costs and expenses	827,833	810,830
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel	97,820	24,277
Operating income	122,829	48,551
Other expense:
Interest expense	(19,090)	(19,876)
Foreign currency gain/(loss)	1,664	(732)
Other expense, net	(1,881)	(2,525)
Total other expense	(19,307)	(23,133)
Equity in net income/(loss) of other unconsolidated subsidiaries	869	(504)
Income before income taxes	104,391	24,914
Income tax expense	18,300	5,274
Net income	86,091	19,640
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(581)	(1,628)
Net income attributable to Darling	$ 85,510	$ 18,012
Basic income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.52	$ 0.11
Diluted income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.51	$ 0.11