Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 27, 2020	Mar. 28, 2020	Jun. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2019	Jun. 27, 2020	Jun. 29, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 848,673		$ 827,324		$ 1,701,515	$ 1,662,428
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses	632,347		644,716		1,279,255	1,295,629
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant, equipment and other assets	27		(13,926)		88	(18,176)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	90,193		81,017		186,386	166,020
Depreciation and amortization	83,310		79,486		167,981	158,650
Total costs and expenses	805,877		791,293		1,633,710	1,602,123
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel	63,492		38,093		161,312	62,370
Operating income	106,288		74,124		229,117	122,675
Other expense:
Interest expense	(17,920)		(20,853)		(37,010)	(40,729)
Debt extinguishment costs	0		(12,126)		0	(12,126)
Foreign currency gain/(loss)	(1,134)		(388)		530	(1,120)
Other expense, net	(1,485)		(2,019)		(3,366)	(4,544)
Total other expense	(20,539)		(35,386)		(39,846)	(58,519)
Equity in net income/(loss) of other unconsolidated subsidiaries	692		82		1,561	(422)
Income before income taxes	86,441		38,820		190,832	63,734
Income tax expense	19,946		7,776		38,246	13,050
Net income	66,495	$ 86,091	31,044	$ 19,640	152,586	50,684
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,056)		(4,786)		(1,637)	(6,414)
Net income attributable to Darling	$ 65,439		$ 26,258		$ 150,949	$ 44,270
Basic income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40		$ 0.16		$ 0.93	$ 0.27
Diluted income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.39		$ 0.16		$ 0.90	$ 0.26