Commitments and Contingencies	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	12. Commitments and Contingencies Employment Matter On April 19, 2013, a class-action complaint, in the case titled De Jesus, et al. v. Frozsun, Inc. d/b/a Frozsun Foods, was filed against Sunrise Growers, Inc. (“Sunrise”) (then named Frozsun, Inc.) in California Superior Court, Santa Barbara County seeking damages, equitable relief and reasonable attorneys’ fees for alleged wage and hour violations. This case includes claims for failure to pay all hours worked, failure to pay overtime wages, meal and rest period violations, waiting-time penalties, improper wage statements and unfair business practices. The putative class includes 10,611 non-exempt hourly employees from Sunrise’s production facilities in Santa Maria and Oxnard, California. The parties attended mediation on October 12, 2017, and reached a general agreement to resolve the matter on a class-wide basis for $5.0 million. After negotiating the remaining details of the settlement, the parties obtained preliminary approval of the class action settlement on May 14, 2018. Settlement class members have until August 20, 2018, to opt out or object to the settlement terms. A final fairness hearing is scheduled with the Court on September 17, 2018. If the settlement is granted final approval at or near the date of the final fairness hearing, funding of the settlement is anticipated to occur before the end of the year. The Company expects to recover the full amount payable under the settlement through insurance coverage and an escrow account established in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Sunrise. As at June 30, 2018, the Company had accrued $5.0 million in connection with this settlement, which is recorded in accounts payable and accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet, and recorded a receivable in the same amount for the anticipated full recovery, which is reflected in accounts receivable on the consolidated balance sheet. Product Recall On November 20, 2017, Treehouse Foods, Inc., several of its related entities, and its insurer filed a lawsuit against the Company in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois titled Treehouse Foods, Inc. et al. v. SunOpta Grains and Food, Inc. The Company was served with the Summons and Complaint on January 24, 2018, and the plaintiffs filed an Amended Complaint on April 23, 2018. The plaintiffs allege economic damages resulting from the Company’s 2016 voluntary recall of certain roasted sunflower kernel products due to the potential for Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The case includes claims for breach of express and implied warranty, negligence, strict liability, and indemnity seeking $16.2 million in damages. There are no allegations of personal injury. The Company is vigorously defending itself against these claims. The Company cannot reasonably predict the outcome of this claim, nor can it estimate the amount of loss, or range of loss, if any, that may result from this claim. Other Claims In addition, various claims and potential claims arising in the normal course of business are pending against the Company. It is the opinion of management that these claims or potential claims are without merit and the amount of potential liability, if any, to the Company is not determinable. Management believes the final determination of these claims or potential claims will not materially affect the financial position or results of the Company.

Employment Matter

On April 19, 2013, a class-action complaint, in the case titled De Jesus, et al. v. Frozsun, Inc. d/b/a Frozsun Foods, was filed against Sunrise Growers, Inc. (“Sunrise”) (then named Frozsun, Inc.) in California Superior Court, Santa Barbara County seeking damages, equitable relief and reasonable attorneys’ fees for alleged wage and hour violations. This case includes claims for failure to pay all hours worked, failure to pay overtime wages, meal and rest period violations, waiting-time penalties, improper wage statements and unfair business practices. The putative class includes 10,611 non-exempt hourly employees from Sunrise’s production facilities in Santa Maria and Oxnard, California. The parties attended mediation on October 12, 2017, and reached a general agreement to resolve the matter on a class-wide basis for $5.0 million. After negotiating the remaining details of the settlement, the parties obtained preliminary approval of the class action settlement on May 14, 2018. Settlement class members have until August 20, 2018, to opt out or object to the settlement terms. A final fairness hearing is scheduled with the Court on September 17, 2018. If the settlement is granted final approval at or near the date of the final fairness hearing, funding of the settlement is anticipated to occur before the end of the year. The Company expects to recover the full amount payable under the settlement through insurance coverage and an escrow account established in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Sunrise. As at June 30, 2018, the Company had accrued $5.0 million in connection with this settlement, which is recorded in accounts payable and accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet, and recorded a receivable in the same amount for the anticipated full recovery, which is reflected in accounts receivable on the consolidated balance sheet.

Product Recall

On November 20, 2017, Treehouse Foods, Inc., several of its related entities, and its insurer filed a lawsuit against the Company in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois titled Treehouse Foods, Inc. et al. v. SunOpta Grains and Food, Inc. The Company was served with the Summons and Complaint on January 24, 2018, and the plaintiffs filed an Amended Complaint on April 23, 2018. The plaintiffs allege economic damages resulting from the Company’s 2016 voluntary recall of certain roasted sunflower kernel products due to the potential for Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The case includes claims for breach of express and implied warranty, negligence, strict liability, and indemnity seeking $16.2 million in damages. There are no allegations of personal injury. The Company is vigorously defending itself against these claims. The Company cannot reasonably predict the outcome of this claim, nor can it estimate the amount of loss, or range of loss, if any, that may result from this claim.

Other Claims

In addition, various claims and potential claims arising in the normal course of business are pending against the Company. It is the opinion of management that these claims or potential claims are without merit and the amount of potential liability, if any, to the Company is not determinable. Management believes the final determination of these claims or potential claims will not materially affect the financial position or results of the Company.