Venezuela - Foreign Currency and Inflation (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 25, 2012
Intercompany Foreign Currency Balance [Line Items]
Monetary assets, net of monetary liabilities, subject to an earnings impact from exchange rate movements for Venezuelan subsidiary under highly inflationary accounting	$ 85.3

Monetary assets, net of monetary liabilities, subject to an earnings impact from exchange rate movements for Venezuelan subsidiary under highly inflationary accounting.

No definition available.

Name:	hnz_MonetaryAssetsNetOfMonetaryLiabilitiesSubjectToEarningsImpactFromExchangeRateMovementsUnderHighlyInflationaryAccounting
Namespace Prefix:	hnz_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant