Financing (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Aug. 27, 2011	Aug. 28, 2010
The Company's long-term debt consisted of the following:
Long-term debt	$ 3,317,600	$ 2,882,300
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt
2012	567,600
2013	500,000
2014	500,000
2015	500,000
2016	500,000
Thereafter	750,000
Total	3,317,600	2,882,300
Commercial paper, weighted average interest rate of 0.4% at August 27, 2011, and 0.4% at August 28, 2010 [Member]
The Company's long-term debt consisted of the following:
Long-term debt	567,600	433,000
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt
Total	567,600	433,000
4.750% Senior Notes due November 2010, effective interest rate of 4.17% [Member]
The Company's long-term debt consisted of the following:
Long-term debt	0	199,300
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt
Total	0	199,300
5.875% Senior Notes due October 2012, effective interest rate of 6.33% [Member]
The Company's long-term debt consisted of the following:
Long-term debt	300,000	300,000
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt
Total	300,000	300,000
4.375% Senior Notes due June 2013, effective interest rate of 5.65% [Member]
The Company's long-term debt consisted of the following:
Long-term debt	200,000	200,000
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt
Total	200,000	200,000
6.500% Senior Notes due January 2014, effective interest rate of 6.63% [Member]
The Company's long-term debt consisted of the following:
Long-term debt	500,000	500,000
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt
Total	500,000	500,000
5.750% Senior Notes due January 2015, effective interest rate of 5.89% [Member]
The Company's long-term debt consisted of the following:
Long-term debt	500,000	500,000
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt
Total	500,000	500,000
5.500% Senior Notes due November 2015, effective interest rate of 4.86% [Member]
The Company's long-term debt consisted of the following:
Long-term debt	300,000	300,000
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt
Total	300,000	300,000
6.950% Senior Notes due June 2016, effective interest rate of 7.09% [Member]
The Company's long-term debt consisted of the following:
Long-term debt	200,000	200,000
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt
Total	200,000	200,000
7.125% Senior Notes due August 2018, effective interest rate of 7.28% [Member]
The Company's long-term debt consisted of the following:
Long-term debt	250,000	250,000
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt
Total	250,000	250,000
4.000% Senior Notes due November 2020, effective interest rate of 4.43% [Member]
The Company's long-term debt consisted of the following:
Long-term debt	500,000	0
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt
Total	$ 500,000	$ 0