Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities 2 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2012	Apr. 27, 2011	Apr. 28, 2010
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Net gains/(losses) recognized in other comprehensive loss (effective portion)	$ 45,658,000	$ 3,626,000	$ (38,422,000)
Net gains/(losses) reclassified from other comprehensive loss into earnings (effective portion):
Sales	8,033,000	3,375,000	1,141,000
Cost of products sold	(19,880,000)	(23,372,000)	(5,104,000)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(62,000)	(141,000)	108,000
Other income/(expense), net	33,401,000	35,744,000	(11,574,000)
Interest income/(expense)	199,000	226,000	20,000
Total	21,691,000	15,832,000	(15,409,000)
Fair value hedges:
Net losses recognized		0
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Net gains/(losses) recognized	(2,183,000)		(59,000)
Total amount recognized in statement of income	19,508,000	19,183,000	(15,468,000)
Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Net gains/(losses) recognized in other comprehensive loss (effective portion)	(2,341,000)	0	0
Net gains/(losses) reclassified from other comprehensive loss into earnings (effective portion):
Sales	0	0	0
Cost of products sold	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0
Other income/(expense), net	0	0	0
Interest income/(expense)	(146,000)	0	0
Total	(146,000)	0	0
Fair value hedges:
Net losses recognized		(51,476,000)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Net gains/(losses) recognized	234,000		30,469,000
Total amount recognized in statement of income	(19,093,000)	(51,476,000)	(11,261,000)
Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Net gains/(losses) recognized in other comprehensive loss (effective portion)	5,725,000	16,649,000	(13,692,000)
Net gains/(losses) reclassified from other comprehensive loss into earnings (effective portion):
Sales	0	0	0
Cost of products sold	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0
Other income/(expense), net	8,901,000	24,644,000	(7,819,000)
Interest income/(expense)	(5,966,000)	(4,484,000)	(1,867,000)
Total	2,935,000	20,160,000	(9,686,000)
Fair value hedges:
Net losses recognized		0
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Net gains/(losses) recognized	0		0
Total amount recognized in statement of income	2,935,000	20,160,000	(9,686,000)
Other Expense [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair value hedges:
Net losses recognized	0	0	0
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Net gains/(losses) recognized	(2,183,000)	3,351,000	(59,000)
Other Expense [Member] | Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Fair value hedges:
Net losses recognized	(19,181,000)	(51,125,000)	(41,730,000)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Net gains/(losses) recognized	0	0	0
Other Expense [Member] | Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Fair value hedges:
Net losses recognized	0	0	0
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Net gains/(losses) recognized	0	0	0
Interest Income [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair value hedges:
Net losses recognized	0
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Net gains/(losses) recognized	0		0
Interest Income [Member] | Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Fair value hedges:
Net losses recognized		(351,000)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Net gains/(losses) recognized	234,000		30,469,000
Interest Income [Member] | Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Fair value hedges:
Net losses recognized		0
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Net gains/(losses) recognized	$ 0		$ 0