DERIVATIVES FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Pretax impact of Cash Flow Hedges on Consolidated Statement of Income (Details) (Cash Flow Hedging [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2012	May 01, 2011	May 02, 2010
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	$ 100.9	$ 26.6	$ (98.3)
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing, Net	(0.7)	0.9	(7.7)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effective Portion, Net	105.8	144.8	(25.3)
Grain Contracts [Member] | Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effective Portion, Net	5.5	232.9	(4.0)
Grain Contracts [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	75.1	80.7	(85.4)
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing, Net	(0.2)	1.9	(7.2)
Lean Hog Contracts [Member] | Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effective Portion, Net	102.8	(82.8)	(22.8)
Lean Hog Contracts [Member] | Sales [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	32.3	(44.5)	1.9
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing, Net	(0.5)	(1.0)	(0.5)
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effective Portion, Net	0	(1.2)	(4.6)
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	(2.4)	(7.0)	(6.8)
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing, Net	0	0	0
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effective Portion, Net	(2.5)	(4.1)	6.1
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Operating Expense [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	(4.1)	(2.6)	(8.0)
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing, Net	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0