Notes Payable, Long-term Debt, Commitments and Contingencies (Details) $ in Millions		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 21, 2017 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2017 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 19, 2012 item
Debt Instrument
Total long-term debt at face value		$ 514	$ 517
Current maturities of long-term debt and unamortized discount		(19)	(18)
Long-term debt, less current maturities and unamortized discount		$ 495	$ 499
Contingencies
Number of search warrants executed authorizing the seizure of certain records from Seaboard's offices in Merriam, Kansas and at the Seaboard Foods employment office and the human resources department in Guymon, Oklahoma. | item				3
Number of civil or criminal proceedings or charges filed | item		0
Regulatory Action | Maximum
Contingencies
Proposed civil penalty	$ 1
Notes payable to bank
Debt Instrument
Notes payable outstanding		$ 142
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)		12.92%	14.88%
Uncommitted bank lines
Debt Instrument
Notes payable outstanding		$ 142
Maximum capacity		382
Letters of credit outstanding		7
Committed bank line
Debt Instrument
Maximum capacity		100
Outstanding balance		0
Term loan due 2022
Debt Instrument
Total long-term debt at face value		$ 491	$ 497
Effective interest rate (as a percent)		2.85%	2.40%
Foreign subsidiary obligations due 2018 through 2023
Debt Instrument
Total long-term debt at face value		$ 23	$ 20
Effective interest rate (as a percent)		18.05%	22.39%
Foreign subsidiaries
Debt Instrument
Notes payable outstanding		$ 124
Foreign subsidiaries | Uncommitted bank lines
Debt Instrument
Maximum capacity		332
Foreign subsidiaries | South African Rand | Notes payable to bank
Debt Instrument
Notes payable outstanding		82
Foreign subsidiaries | Argentine pesos | Notes payable to bank
Debt Instrument
Notes payable outstanding		40
Foreign subsidiaries | Zambian kwacha | Notes payable to bank
Debt Instrument
Notes payable outstanding		$ 2