Earnings Per Share (Table) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2017	Apr. 02, 2016
Earnings Per Share Abstract
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	$ (11,398)	$ (9,663)
Dividends and accretion on Series A Preferred Stock	(1,940)	0
Earning (loss) from continuing operations available to common shareholders	(13,338)	(9,663)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to SunOpta Inc	0	(570)
Earnings (loss) available to common shareholders	$ (13,338)	$ (10,233)
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	85,929,000	85,426,000
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Including Options and Restrictive Stock Units	0	0
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	85,929,000	85,426,000
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	1,362,347	2,648,392
Earnings (loss) per share - basic
from continuing operations basic	$ (0.16)	$ (0.11)
from discontinued operations basic	0	(0.01)
Earnings Per Share Total	(0.16)	(0.12)
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted
from continuing operations diluted	(0.16)	(0.11)
from discontinued operations diluted	0	(0.01)
Earnings Per Share Diluted Total	$ (0.16)	$ (0.12)
Options Held [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	0
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	84,659	0
Series A Preferred Stock [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	0
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	11,333,333