<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<FilingSummary>
  <Version>3.20.1</Version>
  <ProcessingTime/>
  <ReportFormat>html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>165</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>310</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>65</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>8</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0001 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Cover</MenuCategory>
      <Position>1</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0002 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Operations</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>2</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0003 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfComprehensiveEarnings</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>3</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0004 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>4</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0005 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheet (Parentheticals)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetParentheticals</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheet (Parentheticals)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>5</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0006 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfShareholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>6</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0007 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>7</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0008 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>8</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0009 - Disclosure - Revenue</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/Revenue</Role>
      <ShortName>Revenue</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>9</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0010 - Disclosure - Sale of Soy and Corn Business</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SaleOfSoyAndCornBusiness</Role>
      <ShortName>Sale of Soy and Corn Business</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>10</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0011 - Disclosure - Value Creation Plan</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/ValueCreationPlan</Role>
      <ShortName>Value Creation Plan</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>11</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0012 - Disclosure - Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsAndFairValueMeasurements</Role>
      <ShortName>Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>12</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0013 - Disclosure - Inventories</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/Inventories</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>13</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0014 - Disclosure - Bank Indebtedness and Long-Term Debt</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/BankIndebtednessAndLongTermDebt</Role>
      <ShortName>Bank Indebtedness and Long-Term Debt</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>14</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0015 - Disclosure - Series A Preferred Stock</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SeriesPreferredStock</Role>
      <ShortName>Series A Preferred Stock</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>15</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0016 - Disclosure - Other Income, Net</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/OtherIncomeNet</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Income, Net</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>16</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0017 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/EarningsPerShare</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>17</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0018 - Disclosure - Supplemental Cash Flow Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SupplementalCashFlowInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Cash Flow Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>18</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0019 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>19</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0020 - Disclosure - Segmented Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SegmentedInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Segmented Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>20</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0021 - Disclosure - Subsequent Event</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SubsequentEvent</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Event</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>21</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0022 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Policies</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SignificantAccountingPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>22</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0023 - Disclosure - Revenue (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/RevenueTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Revenue (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/Revenue</ParentRole>
      <Position>23</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0025 - Disclosure - Value Creation Plan (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/Valuecreationplantables</Role>
      <ShortName>Value Creation Plan (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/ValueCreationPlan</ParentRole>
      <Position>24</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0026 - Disclosure - Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsandFairValueMeasurementsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsAndFairValueMeasurements</ParentRole>
      <Position>25</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0027 - Disclosure - Inventories (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/InventoriesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/Inventories</ParentRole>
      <Position>26</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0028 - Disclosure - Bank Indebtedness and Long-Term Debt (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/BankIndebtednessandLongTermDebtTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Bank Indebtedness and Long-Term Debt (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/BankIndebtednessAndLongTermDebt</ParentRole>
      <Position>27</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0029 - Disclosure - Other Income, Net (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/OtherIncomeNetTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Income, Net (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/OtherIncomeNet</ParentRole>
      <Position>28</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0030 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/EarningsPerShareTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/EarningsPerShare</ParentRole>
      <Position>29</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0031 - Disclosure - Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SupplementalCashFlowInformationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SupplementalCashFlowInformation</ParentRole>
      <Position>30</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0032 - Disclosure - Segmented Information (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SegmentedInformationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Segmented Information (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SegmentedInformation</ParentRole>
      <Position>31</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0033 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SignificantAccountingPoliciesNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>32</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0034 - Disclosure - Sale of Soy and Corn Business (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SaleOfSoyAndCornBusinessNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Sale of Soy and Corn Business (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SaleOfSoyAndCornBusiness</ParentRole>
      <Position>33</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0035 - Disclosure - Value Creation Plan (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/ValueCreationPlanNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Value Creation Plan (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/Valuecreationplantables</ParentRole>
      <Position>34</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0036 - Disclosure - Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsAndFairValueMeasurementsNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsandFairValueMeasurementsTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>35</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0037 - Disclosure - Bank Indebtedness and Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/BankIndebtednessAndLongTermDebtNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Bank Indebtedness and Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/BankIndebtednessandLongTermDebtTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>36</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0038 - Disclosure - Series A Preferred Stock (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SeriesPreferredStockNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Series A Preferred Stock (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SeriesPreferredStock</ParentRole>
      <Position>37</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0039 - Disclosure - Other Income, Net (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/OtherIncomeNetNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Income, Net (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/OtherIncomeNetTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>38</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0040 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/EarningsPerShareNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/EarningsPerShareTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>39</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0041 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</ParentRole>
      <Position>40</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0042 - Disclosure - Subsequent Event (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SubsequentEventNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Event (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SubsequentEvent</ParentRole>
      <Position>41</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0043 - Disclosure - Revenue (Disaggregation Of Revenue) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/RevenueDisaggregationOfRevenueDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Revenue (Disaggregation Of Revenue) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/RevenueTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>42</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R43.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0045 - Disclosure - Value Creation Plan (Disclosure of costs incurred under the Value Creation Plan) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/ValueCreationPlanDisclosureOfCostsIncurredUnderTheValueCreationPlanDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Value Creation Plan (Disclosure of costs incurred under the Value Creation Plan) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/Valuecreationplantables</ParentRole>
      <Position>43</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R44.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0046 - Disclosure - Value Creation Plan (Disclosure of costs incurred since the inception of the Value Creation Plan) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/ValueCreationPlanDisclosureOfCostsIncurredSinceTheInceptionOfTheValueCreationPlanDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Value Creation Plan (Disclosure of costs incurred since the inception of the Value Creation Plan) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/Valuecreationplantables</ParentRole>
      <Position>44</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R45.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0047 - Disclosure - Value Creation Plan (Disclosure of costs incurred and charged to expense in Value Creation Plan) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/ValueCreationPlanDisclosureOfCostsIncurredAndChargedToExpenseInValueCreationPlanDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Value Creation Plan (Disclosure of costs incurred and charged to expense in Value Creation Plan) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/Valuecreationplantables</ParentRole>
      <Position>45</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R46.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0048 - Disclosure - Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsAndFairValueMeasurementsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsandFairValueMeasurementsTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>46</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R47.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0049 - Disclosure - Inventories (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/InventoriesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/InventoriesTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>47</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R48.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0050 - Disclosure - Bank Indebtedness and Long-Term Debt (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/BankIndebtednessAndLongTermDebtDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Bank Indebtedness and Long-Term Debt (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/BankIndebtednessandLongTermDebtTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>48</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R49.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0051 - Disclosure - Other Income, Net (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/OtherIncomeNetDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Income, Net (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/OtherIncomeNetTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>49</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R50.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0052 - Disclosure - Basic and diluted loss per share (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/LossPerShareTableDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Basic and diluted loss per share (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>50</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R51.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0053 - Disclosure - Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SupplementalCashFlowInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SupplementalCashFlowInformationTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>51</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R52.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0054 - Disclosure - Segmented Information (Disclosure of Segment Revenues and Operating Income) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SegmentedInformationDisclosureOfSegmentRevenuesAndOperatingIncomeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Segmented Information (Disclosure of Segment Revenues and Operating Income) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SegmentedInformationTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>52</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10q.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R53.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0055 - Disclosure - Segmented Information (Disclosure of Segment Depreciation and Amortization) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SegmentedInformationDisclosureOfSegmentDepreciationAndAmortizationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Segmented Information (Disclosure of Segment Depreciation and Amortization) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.sunopta.com/role/SegmentedInformationTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>53</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <InputFiles>
    <File doctype="10-Q" original="form10q.htm">form10q.htm</File>
    <File>exhibit31-1.htm</File>
    <File>exhibit31-2.htm</File>
    <File>exhibit32.htm</File>
    <File>stkl-20200328.xsd</File>
    <File>stkl-20200328_cal.xml</File>
    <File>stkl-20200328_def.xml</File>
    <File>stkl-20200328_lab.xml</File>
    <File>stkl-20200328_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles/>
  <BaseTaxonomies>
    <BaseTaxonomy>http://xbrl.sec.gov/exch/2019-01-31</BaseTaxonomy>
    <BaseTaxonomy>http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2019-01-31</BaseTaxonomy>
    <BaseTaxonomy>http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019-01-31</BaseTaxonomy>
    <BaseTaxonomy>http://fasb.org/srt/2019-01-31</BaseTaxonomy>
  </BaseTaxonomies>
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
