Note 14 - Business Segment Reporting (Detail) - Operations and identifiable assets by business segment consisted of the following: (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Nov. 25, 2012	Nov. 27, 2011	Nov. 25, 2012	Nov. 27, 2011	Nov. 27, 2011
Gross profit	$ 18,459,000	$ 13,010,000	$ 32,222,000	$ 24,260,000
Net income (loss)	8,913,000	3,340,000	13,279,000	5,152,000
Dividend Income	281,000	281,000	563,000	563,000	563,000
Interest income	33,000	81,000	58,000	157,000
Interest expense	498,000	163,000	1,039,000	340,000
Income tax expense	2,920,000	2,049,000	5,484,000	3,159,000
Food Products Technology [Member]
Net sales	78,593,000	46,693,000	147,224,000	90,056,000
International sales	5,959,000	4,640,000	12,182,000	9,711,000
Gross profit	13,102,000	4,531,000	23,044,000	10,590,000
Net income (loss)	9,212,000	2,637,000	15,128,000	5,995,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,174,000	771,000	2,410,000	1,551,000
Dividend Income	281,000	281,000	563,000	563,000
Interest income	7,000	22,000	8,000	30,000
Interest expense	427,000		882,000
Income tax expense	1,761,000		3,733,000
Food Export [Member]
Net sales	28,115,000	24,229,000	53,473,000	45,584,000
International sales	28,055,000	24,150,000	53,366,000	45,460,000
Gross profit	2,034,000	1,802,000	3,377,000	2,816,000
Net income (loss)	866,000	1,093,000	1,175,000	1,390,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,000	2,000	2,000	4,000
Income tax expense	288,000		391,000
HA-based Biomaterials [Member]
Net sales	7,739,000	9,235,000	15,712,000	16,356,000
International sales	4,222,000	7,884,000	9,024,000	11,650,000
Gross profit	3,116,000	5,264,000	5,482,000	7,979,000
Net income (loss)	338,000	2,838,000	26,000	3,300,000
Depreciation and amortization	592,000	555,000	1,175,000	1,083,000
Interest income	26,000	58,000	50,000	105,000
Interest expense	71,000	163,000	157,000	340,000
Income tax expense	113,000		9,000
Corporate [Member]
Net sales	207,000	1,413,000	319,000	2,875,000
Gross profit	207,000	1,413,000	319,000	2,875,000
Net income (loss)	(1,503,000)	(3,228,000)	(3,050,000)	(5,533,000)
Depreciation and amortization	38,000	46,000	74,000	91,000
Interest income		1,000		22,000
Income tax expense	758,000	2,049,000	1,351,000	3,159,000
Total [Member]
Net sales	114,654,000	81,570,000	216,728,000	154,871,000
International sales	38,236,000	36,674,000	74,572,000	66,821,000
Gross profit	18,459,000	13,010,000	32,222,000	24,260,000
Net income (loss)	8,913,000	3,340,000	13,279,000	5,152,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,805,000	1,374,000	3,661,000	2,729,000
Dividend Income	281,000	281,000	563,000	563,000
Interest income	33,000	81,000	58,000	157,000
Interest expense	498,000	163,000	1,039,000	340,000
Income tax expense	$ 2,920,000	$ 2,049,000	$ 5,484,000	$ 3,159,000