Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Apr. 28, 2013		Jan. 27, 2013	Oct. 28, 2012	Jul. 29, 2012	Apr. 29, 2012		Jan. 25, 2012	Oct. 26, 2011	Jul. 27, 2011	Apr. 28, 2013		Apr. 29, 2012		Apr. 27, 2011
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales	$ 2,990,571		$ 2,933,331	$ 2,821,533	$ 2,783,451	$ 3,011,668		$ 2,874,927	$ 2,803,271	$ 2,817,706	$ 11,528,886		$ 11,507,572		$ 10,558,636
Long-Lived Assets	6,953,521					7,168,359					6,953,521		7,168,359		7,402,308
Operating income (loss)											1,661,651		1,502,307		1,687,638
Productivity initiatives						(94,300)		(33,700)	(37,300)	(40,200)			(205,400)
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses											346,632		336,921		292,799
Capital expenditures											399,098	[1]	418,734	[1]	335,646	[1]
Identifiable Assets	12,939,007					11,983,293					12,939,007		11,983,293		12,230,645
Ketchup and Sauces [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											5,375,788		5,232,607		4,607,326
Meals and Snacks [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											4,240,808		4,337,995		4,134,836
Infant/Nutrition [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											1,189,015		1,232,248		1,175,438
Other Products [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											723,275		704,722		641,036
Total North America [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses											126,859		131,023		121,480
Capital expenditures											107,207	[1]	103,958	[1]	101,001	[1]
Identifiable Assets	3,289,900					3,394,387					3,289,900		3,394,387		3,633,276
North American Consumer Products [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											3,195,099		3,241,533		3,265,857
Operating income (loss)											790,939		812,056		832,719
Europe [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											3,314,523		3,441,282		3,236,800
Operating income (loss)											593,044		608,829		581,148
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses											98,806		98,384		91,222
Capital expenditures											96,112	[1]	113,420	[1]	97,964	[1]
Identifiable Assets	5,129,880					4,158,349					5,129,880		4,158,349		4,398,944
Asia Pacific [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											2,533,334		2,500,411		2,247,193
Operating income (loss)											265,879		234,671		253,524
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses											62,233		59,796		49,802
Capital expenditures											91,361	[1]	99,912	[1]	71,419	[1]
Identifiable Assets	2,670,376					2,544,332					2,670,376		2,544,332		2,424,739
U.S. Foodservice [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											1,370,779		1,345,768		1,339,100
Operating income (loss)											186,155		169,843		183,425
Rest of World [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											1,115,151		978,578		469,686
Operating income (loss)											112,660		105,080		53,371
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses											22,836		19,290		6,324
Capital expenditures											48,747	[1]	38,539	[1]	12,829	[1]
Identifiable Assets	1,123,407					1,145,696					1,123,407		1,145,696		1,149,802
Non-operating [Member] [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Operating income (loss)											(226,588)	[2]	(222,754)	[2]	(216,549)	[2]
Non-Operating [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Fiscal 2013 Special Items - Sales											0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]
Fiscal 2013 Special Items											(60,438)	[3]	0	[3]	0	[3]
Productivity Initiatives											0		0		0
Productivity initiatives											0	[4]	(205,418)	[4]	0	[4]
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses											35,898	[2]	28,428	[2]	23,971	[2]
Capital expenditures											55,671	[1],[2]	62,905	[1],[2]	52,433	[1],[2]
Identifiable Assets	725,444	[5]				740,529	[5]				725,444	[5]	740,529	[5]	623,884	[5]
United States [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											3,857,247		3,885,057		3,916,988
Long-Lived Assets	2,383,136					2,419,518					2,383,136		2,419,518		2,425,446
United Kingdom [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											1,597,755		1,611,177		1,506,607
Long-Lived Assets	1,133,086					1,207,918					1,133,086		1,207,918		1,245,047
Other Country [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated
Net external sales											6,073,884		6,011,338		5,135,041
Long-Lived Assets	$ 3,437,299					$ 3,540,923					$ 3,437,299		$ 3,540,923		$ 3,731,815

[1] Excludes property, plant and equipment obtained through acquisitions.

[2] Includes corporate overhead, intercompany eliminations and charges not directly attributable to operating segments.

[3] See Note 17 for further details on Fiscal 2013 special items.

[4] See Note 4 for further details on Fiscal 2012 productivity initiatives.

[5] Includes identifiable assets not directly attributable to operating segments.