Earnings Per Share (Table) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 04, 2015	Jul. 05, 2014	Jul. 04, 2015	Jul. 05, 2014
Earnings Per Share Abstract
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	$ 2,183,000	$ 8,681,000	$ 7,417,000	$ 15,284,000
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(134,000)	27,000	(134,000)	64,000
Earnings (loss) attributable to SunOpta Inc.	$ 2,049,000	$ 8,708,000	$ 7,283,000	$ 15,348,000
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	67,895,257	66,715,349	67,725,800	66,666,617
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	68,225,780	68,458,134	68,046,880	68,058,412
Earnings (loss) per share - basic
from continuing operations basic	$ 0.03	$ 0.13	$ 0.11	$ 0.23
from discontinued operations basic	0	0	0	0
Earnings Per Share Total	0.03	0.13	0.11	0.23
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted
from continuing operations diluted	0.03	0.13	0.11	0.22
from discontinued operations diluted	0	0	0	0
Earnings Per Share Diluted Total	$ 0.03	$ 0.13	$ 0.11	$ 0.22
Warrant [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Including Options and Restrictive Stock Units	0	540,128	0	506,362
Options and RSU [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Including Options and Restrictive Stock Units	330,523	1,202,657	321,080	885,433