Earnings per share (Table) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2012	Oct. 01, 2011	Sep. 29, 2012	Oct. 01, 2011
Earnings Per Share Abstract
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	$ 5,692	$ 3,728	$ 18,648	$ 14,834
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	112	(362)	1,193	(1,986)
Earnings attributable to SunOpta Inc.	$ 5,804	$ 3,366	$ 19,841	$ 12,848
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Dilutive Potential Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	65,949,415	65,599,998	65,871,213	65,606,481
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	66,692,375	66,352,297	66,540,107	66,648,407
Earnings (loss) per share - basic
from continuing operations basic	$ 0.09	$ 0.06	$ 0.28	$ 0.23
from discontinued operations basic	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.02	$ (0.03)
Earnings Per Share Total	$ 0.09	$ 0.05	$ 0.30	$ 0.20
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted
from continuing operations diluted	$ 0.09	$ 0.06	$ 0.28	$ 0.22
from discontinued operations diluted	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.02	$ (0.03)
Earnings Per Share Diluted Total	$ 0.09	$ 0.05	$ 0.30	$ 0.19
Options Held [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Dilutive Potential Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	571,131	603,756	525,840	771,796
Diluted weighted average number of shares oustanding	2,048,700	1,334,700	2,065,700	1,061,600
Warrant [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Dilutive Potential Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	171,829	148,543	143,054	270,130