Acquisitions (Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Aug. 01, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Oct. 01, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Oct. 01, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022	May 02, 2022
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill			$ 2,447,376		$ 2,447,376		$ 1,970,377
Less contingent consideration			78,570		78,570		$ 169,903
Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired					1,093,183	$ 1,760,139
Net sales			1,625,204	$ 1,747,599	5,173,997	4,764,121
Net income attributable to Darling			125,026	191,081	563,210	581,130
Acquisition and integration costs			3,430	$ 4,503	12,158	$ 13,634
FASA Group
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable		$ 76,640
Inventories		43,058
Other current assets		33,327
Property, plant and equipment		224,384
Identifiable intangible assets		119,477
Goodwill		301,937
Operating lease right-of-use assets		583
Other assets		62,388
Deferred tax asset		2,315
Accounts payable		(15,920)
Current portion of long-term debt		(18,680)
Accrued expenses		(38,708)
Long-term debt, net of current portion		(41,926)
Long-term operating lease liabilities		(583)
Deferred tax liability		(95,653)
Other noncurrent liabilities		(503)
Non-controlling interests		(21,704)
Purchase price, net of cash acquired		630,432
Less hold-back		21,705
Less contingent consideration		82,984
Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired		$ 525,743
Net sales			75,800		259,600
Net income attributable to Darling			(3,500)		(1,700)
Valley Proteins
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable								$ 68,558
Inventories								58,246
Other current assets								13,825
Property, plant and equipment								409,405
Identifiable intangible assets								389,200
Goodwill								358,298
Operating lease right-of-use assets								16,380
Other assets								14,164
Deferred tax asset								1,075
Accounts payable								(47,615)
Current portion of long-term debt								(2,043)
Current operating lease liabilities								(4,779)
Accrued expenses								(66,034)
Long-term debt, net of current portion								(5,995)
Long-term operating lease liabilities								(11,601)
Other noncurrent liabilities								(19,436)
Purchase price, net of cash acquired								$ 1,171,648
Net sales			197,100		623,400
Net income attributable to Darling			(11,300)		(7,700)
Gelnex
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$ 81,025
Inventories	141,066
Other current assets	3,477
Property, plant and equipment	143,509
Identifiable intangible assets	350,500
Goodwill	564,467
Operating lease right-of-use assets	134
Other assets	2,703
Deferred tax asset	857
Accounts payable	(15,059)
Current portion of long-term debt	(44,692)
Current operating lease liabilities	(26)
Accrued expenses	(18,887)
Long-term debt, net of current portion	(1,407)
Long-term operating lease liabilities	(123)
Deferred tax liability	(10,298)
Other noncurrent liabilities	(19)
Purchase price, net of cash acquired	1,197,227
Less hold-back	104,145
Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired	$ 1,093,082
Net sales			88,800		180,000
Net income attributable to Darling			1,100		(18,000)
Acquisition and integration costs			$ 600		$ 6,500