Other Comprehensive Income (Schedule of AOCI) (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2018 USD ($)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) December 30, 2017, attributable to Darling, net of tax	$ (209,524)
Other comprehensive gain/(loss) before reclassifications	(64,848)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	859
Reclassification of tax effect	(4,782)
Net current-period other comprehensive income/(loss)	(68,771)
Noncontrolling interest	(971)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) September 29, 2018, attributable to Darling, net of tax	(277,324)
Foreign Currency Translation [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) December 30, 2017, attributable to Darling, net of tax	(183,161)
Other comprehensive gain/(loss) before reclassifications	(65,126)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	0
Reclassification of tax effect	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income/(loss)	(65,126)
Noncontrolling interest	(971)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) September 29, 2018, attributable to Darling, net of tax	(247,316)
Derivative Instruments [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) December 30, 2017, attributable to Darling, net of tax	1,372
Other comprehensive gain/(loss) before reclassifications	278
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	(1,142)
Reclassification of tax effect	291
Net current-period other comprehensive income/(loss)	(573)
Noncontrolling interest	0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) September 29, 2018, attributable to Darling, net of tax	799
Defined Benefit Pension Plans [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) December 30, 2017, attributable to Darling, net of tax	(27,735)
Other comprehensive gain/(loss) before reclassifications	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	2,001
Reclassification of tax effect	(5,073)
Net current-period other comprehensive income/(loss)	(3,072)
Noncontrolling interest	0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss) September 29, 2018, attributable to Darling, net of tax	$ (30,807)

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

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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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