Comprehensive Income/(Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2012	Oct. 26, 2011	Oct. 28, 2012	Oct. 26, 2011
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Net income	$ 291,588	$ 240,136	$ 556,266	$ 475,095
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	144,979	(345,045)	(163,427)	(370,790)
Reclassification of net pension and postretirement benefit losses to net income	13,450	13,304	27,151	27,224
Net deferred gains on derivatives from periodic revaluations	705	11,128	6,917	26,865
Net deferred losses/(gains) on derivatives reclassified to earnings	4,890	(5,056)	(4,215)	(16,798)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	455,612		422,692
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(164)	150	(3)	(66)
Reclassification of net pension and post-retirement benefit losses to net income	5,675	5,896	11,481	12,323
Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges	319	(6,776)	(3,768)	(16,754)
Net hedging gains/losses reclassified into earnings	2,547	(3,558)	(3,230)	(12,470)
H.J. Heinz Company [Member]
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Net income	289,444		547,471
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	146,681		(148,694)
Reclassification of net pension and postretirement benefit losses to net income	13,438		27,092
Net deferred gains on derivatives from periodic revaluations	704		6,884
Net deferred losses/(gains) on derivatives reclassified to earnings	4,927		(4,175)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	455,194		428,578
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(164)	150	(3)	(66)
Reclassification of net pension and post-retirement benefit losses to net income	5,675	5,896	11,481	12,323
Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges	320	(6,775)	(3,756)	(16,766)
Net hedging gains/losses reclassified into earnings	2,560	(3,619)	(3,216)	(12,563)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Net income	2,144		8,795
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,702)		(14,733)
Reclassification of net pension and postretirement benefit losses to net income	12		59
Net deferred gains on derivatives from periodic revaluations	1		33
Net deferred losses/(gains) on derivatives reclassified to earnings	(37)		(40)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	418		(5,886)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0	0	0	0
Reclassification of net pension and post-retirement benefit losses to net income	0	0	0	0
Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges	(1)	(1)	(12)	12
Net hedging gains/losses reclassified into earnings	$ (13)	$ 61	$ (14)	$ 93