Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets 1 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 27, 2011	Apr. 28, 2010	Apr. 29, 2009
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	$ 2,770,918,000	$ 2,687,788,000
Acquisitions	377,572,000	6,378,000
Purchase accounting adjustments	(10,966,000)	(3,925,000)
Disposals		(3,332,000)
Translation adjustments	160,917,000	84,009,000
Goodwill, Ending Balance	3,298,441,000	2,770,918,000
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill accumulated impairment losses	84,700,000	84,700,000	84,700,000
North American Consumer Products [Member]
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	1,102,891,000	1,074,841,000
Acquisitions		6,378,000
Translation adjustments	8,846,000	21,672,000
Goodwill, Ending Balance	1,111,737,000	1,102,891,000
Europe [Member]
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	1,106,744,000	1,090,998,000
Purchase accounting adjustments	(278,000)	(895,000)
Disposals		(483,000)
Translation adjustments	114,774,000	17,124,000
Goodwill, Ending Balance	1,221,240,000	1,106,744,000
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill accumulated impairment losses	54,500,000	54,500,000	54,500,000
Asia/Pacific [Member]
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	289,425,000	248,222,000
Acquisitions	77,345,000
Purchase accounting adjustments	(10,688,000)	(3,030,000)
Translation adjustments	35,998,000	44,233,000
Goodwill, Ending Balance	392,080,000	289,425,000
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill accumulated impairment losses	2,700,000	2,700,000	2,700,000
U.S. Foodservice [Member]
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Goodwill, Beginning Balance		260,523,000
Disposals		(2,849,000)
Goodwill, Ending Balance	257,674,000	257,674,000
Rest of World [Member]
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	14,184,000	13,204,000
Acquisitions	300,227,000
Translation adjustments	1,299,000	980,000
Goodwill, Ending Balance	315,710,000	14,184,000
Goodwill (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill accumulated impairment losses	$ 27,400,000	$ 27,400,000	$ 27,400,000