SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	6 Months Ended
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	Jun. 29, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Reportable Segments	Smithfield Foods, Inc., together with its subsidiaries ("Smithfield," "the Company," "we," "us" or "our"), is the largest hog producer and pork processor in the world. We produce and market a wide variety of fresh meat and packaged meats products both domestically and internationally. We conduct our operations through five reportable segments: Fresh Pork, Packaged Meats, Hog Production, International and Corporate. See Note 12—Reportable Segments for additional information about changes to our reportable segments during the current quarter.
Business Combinations	The Merger was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting. WH Group's cost of acquiring the Company has been pushed-down to establish a new accounting basis for the Company. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to "Successor" refer to Smithfield Foods, Inc. and all its subsidiaries for the period subsequent to the Merger. All references to “Predecessor” refer to Smithfield Foods, Inc. and all its subsidiaries for all periods prior to the Merger. Purchase price allocations resulting from the Merger affect the comparability of results of operations for the Successor and Predecessor periods.
Fiscal Period, Policy	Change in Fiscal Year End On January 16, 2014, the Company elected to change its fiscal year end from the 52 or 53 week period which previously ended on the Sunday nearest April 30 to the 52 or 53 week period which ends on the Sunday nearest December 31. The change in fiscal year was made effective as of December 29, 2013. Therefore, the three and six months ended June 29, 2014 correspond to the second quarter and first half of 2014 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 represent the comparable periods for 2013.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit when a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (ASU 2013-11). This update does not have a significant impact on our consolidated condensed balance sheet. In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenues from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09). The new guidance is effective for fiscal year and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is not permitted. The guidance is not currently effective for us and has not been applied in this Form 10-Q. We are currently in the process of evaluating the potential impact of future adoption but at this time do not anticipate it will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Disclosure of accounting policy for completed business combinations (purchase method, acquisition method or combination of entities under common control). This accounting policy may include a general discussion of the purchase method or acquisition method of accounting (including for example, the treatment accorded contingent consideration, the identification of assets and liabilities, the purchase price allocation process, how the fair values of acquired assets and liabilities are determined) and the entity's specific application thereof. An entity that acquires another entity in a leveraged buyout transaction generally discloses the accounting policy followed by the acquiring entity in determining the basis used to value its interest in the acquired entity, and the rationale for that accounting policy.

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Disclosure of accounting policy for determining an entity's fiscal year or other fiscal period. This disclosure may include identification of the fiscal period end-date, the length of the fiscal period, any reporting period lag between the entity and its subsidiaries, or equity investees. If a reporting lag exists, the closing date of the entity having a different period end is generally noted, along with an explanation of the necessity for using different closing dates. Any intervening events that materially affect the entity's financial position or results of operations are generally also disclosed.

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