Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) by Component, Net of Tax (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ (55,237)		$ 285,955		$ (57,190)		$ (186,584)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	1,411		34,461		5,439		4,030
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	(927)		(417,676)		(3,002)		52,269
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	484		(383,215)		2,437		56,299
Spin-off of WhiteWave Foods							33,025
Ending Balance	(54,753)		(97,260)		(54,753)		(97,260)
Changes in Cash Flow Hedges
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	118		(124)		423		(58,452)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(16)		162		(101)		8
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	0		176	[1]	(220)	[2]	58,476	[3]
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	(16)		338		(321)		58,484
Spin-off of WhiteWave Foods							182
Ending Balance	102		214		102		214
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Items
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(55,687)		(99,358)		(57,224)		(105,845)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	1,857		4,108		5,249		13,181
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	(927)	[4]	(2,069)	[4]	(2,782)	[4]	(6,207)	[4]
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	930		2,039		2,467		6,974
Spin-off of WhiteWave Foods							1,552
Ending Balance	(54,757)		(97,319)		(54,757)		(97,319)
Unrealized Gains/Losses on Available-For-Sale Securities
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			385,552
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications			30,231
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			(415,783)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)			(385,552)
Ending Balance			0				0
Foreign Currency Items
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	332		(115)		(389)		(22,287)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(430)		(40)		291		(9,159)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	0		0		0		0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	(430)		(40)		291		(9,159)
Spin-off of WhiteWave Foods							31,291
Ending Balance	(98)		(155)		(98)		(155)
Non- controlling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance							(3,683)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications							(1,378)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss							(6)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)							(1,384)
Spin-off of WhiteWave Foods							5,067
Ending Balance			$ 0				$ 0

[1] The accumulated other comprehensive loss reclassification components affect distribution expense or cost of sales, depending on the commodity type. See Note 6 and the additional details below.

[2] The accumulated other comprehensive loss component is related to the hedging activity amount at December 31, 2013 that was reclassified to operating income as we de-designated our cash flow hedges. See Note 6.

[3] In January 2013, we terminated $1 billion aggregate notional amount of interest rate swaps with maturity dates in 2013 and 2016. As a result of these terminations, we reclassified total losses of $28.1 million ($17.3 million net of tax) previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings, as a component of interest expense. Additionally, upon completion of the WhiteWave spin-off in May 2013, we determined that the underlying hedged forecasted transactions related to the novated swaps were no longer probable; therefore, during the three months ended June 30, 2013, we reclassified total losses of $63.4 million ($38.9 million, net of tax) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income associated with these swaps to earnings, as a component of interest expense. See Note 6 for further information regarding our interest rate swaps.

[4] The accumulated other comprehensive loss reclassification components are related to amortization of unrecognized actuarial losses and prior service costs, both of which are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See Note 10.