Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)																	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2012 Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]		Apr. 27, 2011 Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]		Apr. 29, 2012 Level 1 [Member] Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]		Apr. 27, 2011 Level 1 [Member] Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]		Apr. 29, 2012 Level 2 [Member] Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]		Apr. 27, 2011 Level 2 [Member] Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]		Apr. 29, 2012 Level 3 [Member] Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]		Apr. 27, 2011 Level 3 [Member] Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]		Apr. 29, 2012 Productivity Initatives [Member]	Apr. 28, 2010 Productivity Initatives [Member]	Apr. 29, 2012 Productivity Initatives [Member] Facility Closing [Member] factories	Apr. 28, 2010 Productivity Initatives [Member] United Kingdom [Member] Facility Closing [Member] factories	Apr. 29, 2012 Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] Level 2 [Member]	Apr. 27, 2011 Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] Level 2 [Member]	Apr. 29, 2012 Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]	Apr. 27, 2011 Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Assets:
Derivatives	$ 90,221,000	[1]	$ 115,705,000	[1]	$ 0	[1]	$ 0	[1]	$ 90,221,000	[1]	$ 115,705,000	[1]	$ 0	[1]	$ 0	[1]
Short-term investments	0	[2]	60,125,000	[2]	0	[2]	60,125,000	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Total assets at fair value	90,221,000		175,830,000		0		60,125,000		90,221,000		115,705,000		0		0
Liabilities:
Derivatives	15,379,000	[1]	43,007,000	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	15,379,000	[1]	43,007,000	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Earn-out	46,881,000	[3]	45,325,000	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]	46,881,000	[3]	45,325,000	[3]
Total liabilities at fair value	62,260,000		88,332,000		0		0		15,379,000		43,007,000		46,881,000		45,325,000
Fair Value Measurements (Textuals) [Abstract]
Asset Impairment Charges																	58,700,000	12,600,000
Number of Factories																			8	2
Long-term Debt, Fair Value																					$ 5,700,000,000	$ 5,000,000,000	$ 4,980,000,000	$ 4,530,000,000

[1] Foreign currency derivative contracts are valued based on observable market spot and forward rates, and are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Interest rate swaps are valued based on observable market swap rates, and are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Cross-currency interest rate swaps are valued based on observable market spot and swap rates, and are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The total rate of return swap is valued based on observable market swap rates and the Company's credit spread, and is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

[2] The Company acquired Coniexpress in Brazil in Fiscal 2011. The acquisition included short-term investments that are valued based on observable market rates and classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

[3] The Company acquired Foodstar in China in Fiscal 2011. Consideration for this acquisition included a potential earn-out payment in Fiscal 2014 contingent upon certain net sales and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) targets during Fiscals 2013 and 2014. The fair value of the earn-out was estimated using a discounted cash flow model and is based on significant inputs not observed in the market and thus represents a Level 3 measurement. Key assumptions in determining the fair value of the earn-out include the discount rate, and revenue and EBITDA projections for Fiscals 2013 and 2014. As of April 29, 2012 there were no significant changes to the fair value of the earn-out recorded for Foodstar at the acquisition date. A change in fair value of the earn-out could have a material impact on the Company's earnings.